By Khabar Rojana 
More than three years after Ankita Bhandari’s murder — and seven months after the accused were convicted — the case has returned to the political spotlight following fresh allegations against a senior BJP leader. The claims have triggered protests across Uttarakhand, led by Opposition parties including the Congress and Left groups, along with civil society organisations. Protesters are demanding a comprehensive CBI inquiry into the case.
While a few BJP leaders have expressed support for a CBI probe, the party leadership has so far avoided taking a definitive stand.
Ankita Bhandari, a 19-year-old receptionist at the Vanantara Resort in Rishikesh, was murdered on September 18, 2022, barely 20 days after joining the property. The main accused, Pulkit Arya — son of former BJP leader Vinod Arya — allegedly killed her after she refused to provide sexual services. Ankita’s body was recovered six days after she was reported missing.
A Special Investigation Team (SIT) found Arya guilty of murder, sexual harassment, destruction of evidence, and violations under the Immoral Trafficking Act. In May 2025, a court sentenced Arya and two co-accused — Ankit Gupta and Saurabh Bhaskar — to life imprisonment.
From the outset, speculation about a possible “VIP angle” surrounded the case. However, investigators stated that no evidence linked any influential individual to the crime. A petition seeking a CBI investigation reached the Supreme Court, which closed the matter in March 2025, noting that the trial had progressed sufficiently.
The controversy resurfaced after videos were posted by Urmila Sanawar, who claims to be the second wife of former BJP MLA Suresh Rathore. In one video, she alleged that Ankita was killed for refusing to provide “extra services” to a leader referred to as “Gattu.”
In a subsequent post, Sanawar released an alleged audio recording of a conversation with Rathore, suggesting a link between the case and a senior BJP leader. The claims have intensified political pressure and revived public demands for an independent probe.
Former SIT officials have reiterated that earlier investigations found no evidence supporting the VIP claims. Despite this, the renewed allegations have reignited public anger and placed the BJP under fresh political scrutiny in the state.
Shalu Shalu