Fresh raid at Kanda's residence

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Delhi Police carried out fresh raids at the residence of absconding former Haryana Minister Gopal Kanda, who is wanted in air hostess Geetika Sharma's suicide case.

A police party headed by ACP Shailender Singh entered the former minister's Rania Road house around 10:30 pm on Thursday night, officials said on Friday. This is the second such raid within 24 hours at the sprawling mansion of Kanda.

As the team that carried out the raid on Wednesday night was an all-male contingent and might have faced difficulty in questioning the women present in the Kanda residence, a woman constable was also part of the raiding party on Thursday night.

The police team remained inside the premises for almost 20 minutes. The ACP leading the team told reporters waiting outside that the raid was a part of the ongoing investigations.

Official sources said Delhi Police personnel were also keeping a close watch on the movement of Kanda's aides here.

Kanda's anticipatory bail plea to avoid arrest in the case was yesterday rejected by a Delhi court which said the charges against him were serious and that he may hamper the probe.

Kanda, who is accused of abetment to suicide and criminal intimidation, has refused to appear for questioning before the Delhi Police.

"The allegations against Kanda are grave and serious in nature. There are allegations of calls being made from other phone and SMSs have been sent to her and all this is required to be investigated thoroughly," Additional Sessions Judge Rajnish Bhatnagar had said.

Geetika (23), a former air hostess with Kanda's now defunct MDLR airline, was found hanging in her flat in north west Delhi on Sunday.

In a suicide note found at her residence, Geetika said she was ending her life due to harassment by Kanda and MDLR official Aruna. Both Kanda and Aruna have denied the allegations.

Kanda, an Independent MLA who held Home, Urban Bodies and Industry and Commerce portfolios, resigned the following day.