Air hostess case: HC reserves order over Kanda's bail cancellation

New Delhi, May 16 (IANS) The Delhi High Court Friday reserved its order on pleas filed by the police and the brother of a former air hostess who committed suicide seeking cancellation of bail granted to former Haryana minister Gopal Goyal Kanda, accused of abetting the young woman's suicide.

Justice V.P. Vaish reserved the order after Additional Solicitor General Sidhartha Luthra for the police, counsel for the air hostess's brother and Kanda's counsel concluded their respective arguments.

Delhi Police and the air hostess's brother contended that Kanda is an influential person and while on bail will try to tamper with evidence and influence the witnesses.

Asking the court to cancel his bail, they said the trial court has not taken into consideration all the aspects of the case while granting him bail.

Kanda's counsel told the court that the petitions filed by police and Geetika's brother were frivolous and it was a personal attack on his liberty following grant of bail to him 18 months after being accused of abetting her suicide.

Seeking dismissal of the pleas, Kanda said the high court earlier dropped the charge of sexual exploitation against him and he has not misused the condition of bail.

The trial court March 4 allowed the bail application of Kanda while observing that he was in judicial custody since August 2012.

Kanda and his aide Aruna Chadha are accused of abetting the Aug 4-5, 2012 suicide of the 23-year-old former air hostess, who left behind a note accusing the duo of harassing her.

The duo have been charged with abetting suicide, criminal conspiracy, forgery and hacking computers and sending offensive or false messages.

The Delhi High Court Feb 10 had granted regular bail to Chadha.