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The Chief Minister recently met Ankita’s parents and reiterated that the state government stands firmly with the victim’s family.
File photo of Ankita Bhandari who was murdered in 2022.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has approved a CBI investigation into the Ankita Bhandari case. The decision was taken following a request from Ankita’s parents, who had sought a central probe into the matter.
The approval comes amid ongoing public concern and calls for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the case. The CBI is expected to take over the investigation soon and examine all aspects of the matter.
The Chief Minister recently met Ankita’s parents and reiterated that the state government stands firmly with the victim’s family. He assured them of lawful, impartial and swift action on the demands they have raised, stating that ensuring justice remains the government’s top priority.
Ankita Bhandari, 19, who worked as a receptionist at the Vanantra Resort in Pauri district, went missing for nearly six days before her body was recovered from the Chilla canal in Rishikesh on September 24, 2022. Investigators alleged that she was pushed into the canal following a dispute.
Pulkit Arya, the resort owner and son of expelled BJP leader Vinod Arya, was arrested in connection with the case, along with two others—Saurabh Bhaskar and Ankit Gupta. All three were later found guilty.
On May 30, 2025, an Uttarakhand court convicted the three accused and sentenced them to life imprisonment. The verdict was delivered by the Additional District and Sessions Judge Court in Kotdwar.
Despite the convictions, demands for a CBI probe intensified in recent weeks after Urmila Sanawar, reportedly the wife of expelled BJP MLA Suresh Rathore, alleged the involvement of a “VIP” in the murder.
Uttarakhand (Uttaranchal), India, India
January 09, 2026, 6:37 PM IST
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