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{{Short description|Indian politician}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix =
| name = Gopal Kumar Goyal
| honorific-suffix =
| native_name =
| image =
| alt =
| caption =

| constituency1 = [[Sirsa (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Sirsa]]
| office = [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|MLA]], [[Haryana Legislative Assembly]]
| predecessor1 = [[Randeep Singh Surjewala]]
| successor1 = [[Makhan Lal Singla]]
| term_start1 = 2009
| term_end1 = 2014

| constituency = [[Sirsa (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Sirsa]]
| term_start = 24 October 2019
| predecessor = [[Makhan Lal Singla]]
| successor =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1965|12|29}}
| birth_place = [[Sirsa, Haryana|Sirsa]], Haryana, India
| death_date =
| death_place =
| birthname =
| party = [[Haryana Lokhit Party]]
| otherparty =
| spouse = Saraswati Devi
| partner = 
| relations =
| children = 1 son and 2 daughters
| residence = [[Sirsa, Haryana|Sirsa]], Haryana
| alma_mater =
| occupation =
| profession = Politician and businessman
| cabinet =
| committees = Committee on Agriculture (Member)
| portfolio = Former Minister of State for Urban Local Bodies and Home (attached with CM),<br />Former Minister of State for Industries & Commerce (attached with PWM)
| website =
}}

'''Gopal Kumar Goyal''' (born 29 December 1965), commonly known as '''Gopal Goyal Kanda''', is a businessman and member of the [[Haryana Legislative Assembly]] in India.

Kanda was elected to the legislative assembly of the state of [[Haryana]] in 2009 as an [[Independent (politician)|Independent]] representative for the [[Sirsa (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Sirsa]] constituency. He served for some time as a minister in the [[Government of Haryana]] before resigning his post in the wake of legal charges being filed against him. He subsequently founded the [[Haryana Lokhit Party]] and stood unsuccessfully as a candidate in the [[2014 Haryana Legislative Assembly election|state assembly elections of 2014]]. In [[2019 Haryana Legislative Assembly election|2019]], he again stood as a candidate for elections. He was successful in his attempt and is now the MLA for Sirsa.<ref name=results2019>{{cite web |url=https://eci.gov.in/files/file/11697-haryana-legislative-assembly-election-2019/ |title=Haryana Legislative Assembly Election, 2019 - Haryana - Election Commission of India |website=eci.gov.in |accessdate= 2 February 2021}}</ref> {{update after|2024|10}}

==Background==
Gopal Goyal Kanda was born on 29 December 1965 in Sirsa, Haryana, India,<ref name="Haryana Vidhan Sabha MLA profile">{{cite news|title=Haryana Vidhan Sabha MLA profile|publisher=Haryana Vidhan Sabha|year=2012|url=http://haryanaassembly.gov.in/MLADetails.aspx?MLAID=780}}</ref> where his father, Murli Dhar (Fife) Kanda, was a lawyer.<ref name="singh">{{cite news |work=Sunday Guardian |url=http://www.sunday-guardian.com/investigation/religion-made-kanda-popular-in-sirsa-wealth-came-in-gurgaon |first=Abhimanyu |last=Singh |date=12 August 2012 |title=Religion made Kanda popular in Sirsa, wealth came in Gurgaon |accessdate=10 August 2017}}</ref> His ancestors were market traders and his surname, 'Kanda', refers to the iron weights used by such people.<ref name="munshi">{{cite news |url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/the-rise-and-fall-of-sirsa-notorious-son-gopal-goyal-kanda/1/212469.html |title=The rise and fall of Sirsa's notorious son Gopal Goyal Kanda |work=India Today |first=Suhas |last=Munshi |date=9 August 2012 |accessdate=10 August 2017}}</ref> He lived with his family in a two-room apartment above their shop.<ref name="TOI20120810"/> They had connections with an influential local politician, [["Om Prakash" Chautala]], and access to Tara Baba (died 2002), a reclusive local spiritual guru whom Kanda has subsequently done much to promote venerate.<ref name="singh"/>

A school drop-out, according to ''[[The Times of India]]'' Kanda has been "Electrician, shoe shop owner, real estate broker, industrialist, car dealer, Tara Baba devotee, airline owner and politician".<ref name="TOI20120810">{{cite news |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-08-10/india/33136341_1_sirsa-tara-baba-shoe-camp |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130103113039/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-08-10/india/33136341_1_sirsa-tara-baba-shoe-camp |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 January 2013 |title=Gopal Kanda: A dropout's rise to wealth and power |first=Sukhbir |last=Siwach |date=10 August 2012 |work=[[The Times of India]] |accessdate=21 September 2016}}</ref>
Kanda's early attempts at business in Sirsa – a music shop and various ventures involving shoes – were unsuccessful. In 1997, he moved to [[Gurgaon]] to enter the real estate business and was able to exploit legal reforms to become a successful broker and, eventually, developer. By 2005, he also had interests in designer clothing production and was an exporter,<ref name="singh"/><ref name="TOI20120810" /> as well as owning a hotel in Gurgaon, a casino in [[Goa]] and various car dealerships.<ref name="singh"/> He launched [[MDLR Airlines]] around 2006–2007, but it suspended operations in 2009, after accumulating losses and suffering a 2008 tax raid in which numerous employees were convicted. The airline became a part of [[Emirates Airlines]] in October 2010.<ref name="TOI20120810" /><ref>{{cite news| url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-08-09/india/33118142_1_kanda-and-aruna-suicide-note-mdlr | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131214183102/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-08-09/india/33118142_1_kanda-and-aruna-suicide-note-mdlr | url-status=dead | archive-date=14 December 2013 |title=Geetika Sharma suicide: Court rejects Kanda's anticipatory bail plea |date=9 August 2012 | work=[[The Times of India]] |accessdate=11 August 2017}}</ref>

Kanda is married to Saraswati Devi and has a son and two daughters.<ref name=" Haryana Vidhan Sabha MLA profile " /> He uses the surname "Kanda" for political and religious purposes, while for business purposes and on official papers his name is Gopal Kumar Goyal.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-08-22/india/33321768_1_mdlr-group-popular-surname-three-passports |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130103073627/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-08-22/india/33321768_1_mdlr-group-popular-surname-three-passports |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 January 2013 |title=Gopal Kumar Goyal's 'Kanda' mystery |first=Rohan |last=Dua |date=22 August 2012 |work=[[The Times of India]] |accessdate=21 September 2016}}</ref>

==Politics==
Kanda returned to Sirsa in 2006 with an eye to entering politics. He leveraged the local status of the Chautala family and of Tara Baba, in memory of whom he built a large temple complex.<ref name="TOI20120810" /> It was during the period after Chautala became [[Chief Minister (India)|Chief Minister]] in 1999 that Kanda's business career had taken off<ref name="singh"/> but Chautala's [[Indian National Lok Dal]] (INLD) party lost the 2005 general elections in Haryana.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://in.rediff.com/election/hardetail05.htm |work=Rediff |title=(Haryana Assembly Elections 2005 Constituency wise Results}}</ref>

The relationship with the Chautala family soured when they refused to select Kanda as an INLD candidate in the 2009 state assembly elections, believing that he was incapable of winning. Although he was also friendly with significant members of the [[Indian National Congress]] (INC), that party, too, refused him a candidacy. Exploiting his religious affiliations with Tara Baba,<ref name="singh"/> he contested instead as an independent and defeated the INLD candidate, Padam Jain, by a margin of 6521 votes.<ref name="munshi"/> He supported the INC, led by [[Bhupinder Singh Hooda]], in the formation of a government. The INC had 40 legislators and needed at least another six to form the government, so Kanda acted as kingmaker and rallied a group of independents in support of Hooda. He was rewarded with a cabinet post and made Minister of State for Home in Haryana.<ref name="TOI20120810"/> He had at that time ten criminal cases pending against him.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.ndtv.com/article/people/who-is-gopal-goyal-kanda-257580 |title=Who is Gopal Goyal Kanda? |first=Abhinav |last=Bhatt |date=21 August 2012 |accessdate=11 August 2017}}</ref>

When not bound by the [[Election Commission of India's Model Code of Conduct]], which restricts certain activities during election periods, Kanda regularly provided his constituents with free medicines and access to medical services, along with food, water and school books. Supporters claim that Tara Baba declared him to be his spiritual heir.<ref name="ghose">{{cite news |work=The Indian Express |title=Where everything Kanda owns is a landmark |first= Dipankar |last=Ghose |date=24 September 2014 |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/politics/where-everything-kanda-owns-is-a-landmark/ |accessdate=10 August 2017}}</ref>

==Resignation as minister==
Kanda was arrested in 2012 and resigned from office in the home ministry in the Government of Haryana.<ref name="dh"/> On 5 August 2012, Geetika Sharma, a former [[air hostess]] with the MDLR airline had committed suicide. She left two suicide notes,.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.indiatvnews.com/news/india/suicide-saga-turns-murkier-geetika-worked-at-gopal-kanda-s-goa-17251.html |title=Suicide saga turns murkier, Geetika worked at Gopal Kanda's Goa casinos, Nupur Mehta involved |publisher=India TV |date=7 August 2012 |accessdate=14 August 2012}}</ref> accusing Kanda and an aide of harassment.<ref name=autogenerated1 /> She also alleged that Kanda was "having an illicit relationship with another woman, Ankita, with whom he has a child".<ref>{{cite news |title=My trust is costing my life, won't forgive him: Geetika Sharma |accessdate=21 September 2016 |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-08-06/india/33064940_1_suicide-note-illicit-relationship-girl-child |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131121014932/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-08-06/india/33064940_1_suicide-note-illicit-relationship-girl-child |url-status=dead |archive-date=21 November 2013 |first=Raj |last=Shekhar |work=[[The Times of India]] |date=6 August 2012}}</ref> Allegations have been made that before her suicide Kanda sent a letter to Emirates saying that she had been a poor employee and had defaulted on a loan, and her family said that he had sent her threatening e-mails using several identities. Kanda denied the allegations and stated that he had encouraged Sharma by sponsoring her on an MBA course. He also said "She was also made the chairman of the trust which managed an international school at Sirsa."<ref name=autogenerated1>[http://m.indiatoday.in/story/gopal-kanda-threatened-us-hours-before-geetika-committed-suicide-alleges-family/1/212083.html Gopal Kanda threatened us hours before Geetika committed suicide, alleges family]</ref>

Delhi Police took him in custody, with charges including abetting the suicide, criminal conspiracy and criminal intimidation, and sending false electronic messages.<ref name="dh">{{cite news|title=Kanda may also face destruction of proof case|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/273641/kanda-may-face-destruction-proof.html|accessdate=23 August 2012|newspaper=Deccan Herald|date=23 August 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Fresh trouble for Kanda|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/article3810563.ece|accessdate=23 August 2012|newspaper=The Hindu|date=23 August 2012|location=Chennai, India}}</ref> Haryana chief minister, Bhupinder Singh Hooda, said that his former minister not helping the police in the suicide probe was "unfair".<ref>{{cite news|url= http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-08-10/india/33136303_1_bhupinder-singh-hooda-today-police-investigation-chief-minister|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131214183059/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-08-10/india/33136303_1_bhupinder-singh-hooda-today-police-investigation-chief-minister|url-status= dead|archive-date= 14 December 2013|work= [[The Times of India]]|title= Kanda must join Geetika suicide probe: Hooda|date=10 August 2012 }}</ref>

On 15 February 2013, Geetika's mother, Anuradha Sharma also committed suicide. She chose the same method as her daughter and left a suicide note at the same place as her.<ref>{{cite web|title=Geetika Sharma's mother commits suicide |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/Former-airhostess-Geetika-Sharma-s-mother-commits-suicide/Article1-1012243.aspx |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130320203305/http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/Former-airhostess-Geetika-Sharma-s-mother-commits-suicide/Article1-1012243.aspx |archivedate=20 March 2013 }}</ref>

On 4 March 2014, Kanda was granted bail after a charge of sexual exploitation was dropped by the [[Delhi High Court]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Gopal Kanda gets bail in Geetika Sharma Suicide Case |url=http://news.biharprabha.com/2014/03/gopal-kanda-gets-bail-in-geetika-sharma-suicide-case/ |agency=Indo-Asian News Service |work=Bihar Prabha |accessdate=6 March 2014}}</ref> Both the police and Geetika Sharma's brother objected to the grant of bail, alleging that medical records had been forged, the freedom would enable witness interference, and that it could prejudice a future trial.<ref>{{cite news |publisher=NDTV |agency=Press Trust of India |title=Airhostess Suicide Case: Delhi Police Opposes Bail for ex-Haryana Minister Gopal Kanda |date=12 May 2014 |url=http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/airhostess-suicide-case-delhi-police-opposes-bail-for-ex-haryana-minister-gopal-kanda-561510 |accessdate=10 August 2017}}</ref> Kanda then sought judicial intervention to prevent media from reporting the case.<ref>{{cite news |work=The Financial Express |agency=Press Trust of India |title=Airhostess Geetika Sharma suicide case: Gopal Kanda seeks curbs on media coverage |date=23 May 2014 |url=http://www.financialexpress.com/archive/airhostess-geetika-sharma-suicide-case-gopal-kanda-seeks-curbs-on-media-coverage/1253487/ |accessdate=10 August 2017}}</ref>

==Return to politics==
As leader of the Haryana Lokhit Party, which he had formed in May 2014,<ref>{{cite news |work=DNA |title=Gopal Kanda's Haryana Lokhit Party promises sops for al |date=17 August 2014 |url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-gopal-kanda-s-haryana-lokhit-party-promises-sops-for-all-2011498 |accessdate=10 August 2017}}</ref> Kanda contested the 2014 elections in Haryana. He lost to [[Makhan Lal Singla]] of the INLD,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/punjab/chandigarh/inld-saves-bastion-wins-8-of-9-seats-in-sirsa/article1-1277278.aspx |work=Hindustan Times |title=INLD saves bastion, wins 8 of 9 seats in Sirsa |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141103070005/http://www.hindustantimes.com/punjab/chandigarh/inld-saves-bastion-wins-8-of-9-seats-in-sirsa/article1-1277278.aspx |archivedate=3 November 2014 }}</ref> despite his opponents acknowledging beforehand that his local popularity negated any potential ill effects from the Sharma case.<ref name="ghose"/>

In October 2016, with the Sharma case still unresolved, Kanda and his brother, Govind, were charged in relation to an investigation into alleged illegal property development in Sirsa. Police had been looking into the matter since 2009.<ref>{{cite news |work=The Times of India |title=Kanda, brother booked for building illegal colony |date=3 October 2016 |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/Kanda-brother-booked-for-building-illegal-colony/articleshow/54648592.cms |accessdate=10 August 2017}}</ref> Kanda has had other brushes with the law, including a case from 2000 involving cheque bouncing that was still unresolved in 2014,<ref>{{cite news |work=The Indian Express |agency=Press Trust of India |date=17 April 2014 |title=Kanda gets bail in cheque bounce case |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/kanda-gets-bail-in-cheque-bounce-case |accessdate=11 August 2017}}</ref> and a 2007 incident when he was discovered in the company of members of the [[criminal underworld]].<ref name="munshi"/>

==See also==

* [[Politics of India]]
* [[Suicide in India]]

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

== External links ==
* [https://www.facebook.com/gopalkandahlp Gopal Kanda on Facebook]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kanda, Gopal Goyal}}
[[Category:1965 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Indian prisoners and detainees]]
[[Category:State cabinet ministers of Haryana]]
[[Category:Haryana MLAs 2009–2014]]
[[Category:Crime in Haryana]]
[[Category:Indian National Lok Dal politicians]]
[[Category:Indian National Congress politicians]]
[[Category:Members of the Haryana Legislative Assembly]]
[[Category:Haryana MLAs 2019–2024]]
[[Category:Haryana MLAs 2014–2019]]

Gopal Goyal Kanda - Revision history

CleanupBot II at 18:57, 15 August 2023