New Delhi:
Former Haryana Minister Gopal Kanda, an accused in airhostess Geetika Sharma suicide case, was denied bail by a Delhi court on Monday.
The court said the stage of the trial is at the threshold and considering his power and status, his mere presence is likely to intimidate witnesses.
A sitting MLA from Sirsa, Kanda had sought bail saying the investigation pertaining to him is complete, the police have already filed the charge sheet and he has been in custody since August 2012.
To this, the court said, "Grant of bail is not a mathematical equation oblivious to the fair criminal trial and larger public interest wherein mere submission like investigation is complete, charge sheet has been filed, there are large number of witnesses, completion of trial will take time and the accused is running in judicial custody for long, will not automatically lead to setting the accused at liberty on bail."
Kanda and his employee Aruna Chadha are facing charges of abetting suicide of Geetika Sharma, who was employed in the former minister's MDLR airlines.
The duo has also been charged with forgery for cheating and harming the reputation of the victim and booked under the Information Technology Act for sending fake e-mails to her.
On October 4, Kanda had surrendered before the court after his month-long interim bail to attend Haryana Assembly session expired and the court refused to extend the same. He had then moved a plea for regular bail.