Kanda did not declare assets to CM since 2009

Absconding former Haryana minister Gopal Kanda did not disclose his financial status to chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda for three years in spite of repeated communications from the state government, documents in possession of Hindustan Times have revealed.

Absconding former Haryana minister Gopal Kanda did not disclose his financial status to chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda for three years in spite of repeated communications from the state government, documents in possession of Hindustan Times have revealed.

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Under the code of conduct, ministers are required to disclose their assets annually to the chief minister. Kanda, however, ignored all such reminders since he assumed office in 2009.

A reply furnished by the chief secretary office under the Right to Information Act on May 18 this year (HT has a copy) has confirmed that despite repeated reminders, Kanda and health minister Rao Narender Singh did not submit their personal assets' details to the state government.

Kanda has been on the run since Wednesday last. He has been accused of abetting the suicide of his former employee Geetika Sharma, who had hanged herself on Sunday last. In her suicide note, she had accused Kanda of driving her to taking the extreme step.

In lieu of support at the crucial juncture, Hooda bestowed Kanda the portfolio of minister of state for home (as Hooda's junior minister) in November 2009. After assuming office, Kanda started ignoring repeated notices to declare his assets.

Though Kanda has not declared his assets to the chief minister for three years, he did reveal such information to the Election Commission in the run up the 2009 Haryana assembly elections.