Although Bharatiya Janata Party has emerged as the party with the most number of legislators in Haryana, it has fallen short of a majority by six seats. The BJP needs support from the independents and other parties. In such a situation, BJP has received support from former Haryana Minister, Gopal Goyal Kanda. The tainted Sirsa MLA is all set to play a kingmaker role in Haryana. Kanda, the lone MLA from Haryana Lokhit party leader has announced his support to BJP along with the other independent MLAs. Kanda, a businessman and a former powerbroker, is suspected of abetment in two suicide cases.
Allegations Against Kanda
Throughout his public life, Kanda has been in several controversies. Allegedly, he abetted the suicide of a young air hostess in August 2012 by harassing her and “misusing her”, according to her suicide note, ThePrint reported.
After her suicide, Kanda denied all allegations and remained underground for ten days. He later surrendered and was arrested on charges of rape, abetment to suicide, criminal conspiracy and criminal intimidation.
Subsequently, he resigned from the Hooda cabinet. The deceased’s mother too killed herself six months later, blaming Kanda and one of his aides for being responsible for her daughter’s death.
Meet the new kingmaker in Haryana and ask yourself, is this the kind of politics you want to see! Jai ho!! https://t.co/6xSq1Id0Zf
— Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) October 24, 2019
After spending over a year in jail, the Delhi High Court dropped the rape charge and granted him bail on March 2014. Kanda continues to face trial in the air hostess suicide case. The Delhi Police had filed a cancellation report in court in March in the mother’s suicide case. But the court had rejected the report and action recommended against the investigating officer.
Besides this, Kanda, along with his wife, also face allegations of income tax evasion to the tune of Rs 40 crore.
In 2012, the BJP’s current IT Cell chief called Gopal Kanda as the "epitome of the Congress". Kanda was accused of…
Saikat Datta ಅವರಿಂದ ಈ ದಿನದಂದು ಪೋಸ್ಟ್ ಮಾಡಲಾಗಿದೆ ಗುರುವಾರ, ಅಕ್ಟೋಬರ್ 24, 2019
In 2008 Kanda’s employees and supporters allegedly attacked sleuths during an income tax raid. In 2012, the Kandas were let off in this case. Cricketer Atul Wassan was beaten up by Kanda’s security men two years later, for overtaking their car. The matter was sorted out after Kanda apologised.
In September 2018, the economic offences wing of the Delhi Police booked Kanda in a cheating case involving one of the multiple companies Kanda has an association. The case is still being investigated. He also has five cases against him pertaining to cheque bouncing.
Back in 2009, Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) refused to field Kanda in the assembly elections, prompting him to contest as an Independent. Kanda defeated INLD candidate Padam Jain by a margin of 6,521 votes. He was later rewarded with a cabinet berth by the Hooda-led Congress government.
He started ‘MDLR Airlines’, named after his father Murli Dhar and son Lakhpat Ram in 2005. Kanda, in his affidavit for the 2019 election, declared movable and immovable assets worth Rs 65.5 crore. His wife, Saraswati Devi’s assets, total just over Rs 30 crore. The couple, at the same time, has liabilities of Rs 78 crore.
Also Read: Haryana: Accused Of Raping Two Minor, BSP Leader Gets Ticket from Hathin