Ankita Bhandari Murder Case: Police Reject ‘VIP’ Angle Amid Renewed CBI Probe Demands

Uttarakhand Police have firmly denied claims of the involvement of any “VIP” in the high-profile Ankita Bhandari murder case, despite growing political pressure and renewed demands for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe. Senior police officials have clarified that all leads were thoroughly examined during the investigation and no evidence pointing to a powerful or influential individual was found.

Haridwar Superintendent of Police (Rural) Shekhar Suyal addressed the media on Saturday, stating unequivocally that the investigation did not uncover the involvement of any VIP figure. His remarks come in response to fresh allegations that have reignited public debate around the case.

“No VIP was identified during the investigation,” SP Suyal said. “The individual whose name surfaced during conversations and questioning was Ankita Bhandari’s acquaintance, Dharmendra Kumar, also known as Pradhan. He is a resident of Noida and is not a VIP.”

Providing further clarity, Suyal explained that Dharmendra Kumar had visited the area for personal work just two days before Ankita’s murder. “During questioning, it emerged that he had briefly stopped at the Vanantra Resort only to have a meal,” the officer said.

According to the police, this account was corroborated through multiple sources. “The resort’s official records and statements of staff members confirmed his brief presence at the property,” Suyal added, emphasizing that there was no indication of any deeper connection to the crime.

The controversy resurfaced after Urmila Sanawar, who claims to be the wife of former BJP MLA Suresh Rathore, released audio and video recordings allegedly featuring conversations between herself and Rathore. In these clips, she claimed that a person referred to as “Gattu” was the supposed “VIP” linked to the Ankita Bhandari murder case.

In a separate video, Sanawar went a step further, naming “Gattu” as a senior BJP politician from Uttarakhand. These allegations quickly gained traction on social media, triggering demands from opposition parties for an independent investigation.

Suresh Rathore, who has since been expelled from the BJP, has strongly denied the allegations. He claimed that Artificial Intelligence technology was used to fabricate his voice in the circulated recordings and alleged that the clips were deliberately spread to tarnish his political image.

Amid the political uproar, the Uttarakhand government on Friday said it remained open to revisiting the case. The state administration clarified that a fresh investigation would be considered “if credible evidence is presented,” signaling caution while responding to public pressure.

Opposition leaders have seized upon the new allegations to renew calls for a CBI probe, both into the purported VIP angle and the original murder case. They argue that an independent central agency investigation is necessary to restore public confidence.

The Ankita Bhandari murder dates back to September 18, 2022. Ankita, who worked as a receptionist at the Vanantra Resort in Uttarakhand’s Pauri district, was allegedly killed under circumstances that shocked the state and sparked widespread protests.

In response to public outrage at the time, the state government constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the case. Following an extensive investigation, the court convicted Pulkit Arya—the owner of the resort and son of a BJP leader—along with two others, sentencing all three to life imprisonment.

Despite the convictions, the case continues to attract intense public scrutiny. With fresh claims, political accusations, and official denials intersecting once again, the Ankita Bhandari murder case remains a deeply sensitive issue in Uttarakhand’s political and social landscape.