Friday World January 7, 2026
The brutal murder of Uttarakhand's 19-year-old daughter **Ankita Bhandari** in 2022 shook the entire country.
A simple receptionist who arrived at the Vanantra Resort in Yamkeshwar (near Rishikesh) with dreams was murdered within just 20 days for refusing demands of sexual exploitation.
This case is no longer just a murder; it has become a symbol of power misuse, allegations of evidence tampering, and an unresolved VIP angle** mystery.
The Cruel Truth of the Incident and the Verdict On September 18, 2022, Ankita went missing from the resort.
→ Her body was recovered from the Chilla Canal barrage on September 24.
Investigation revealed that resort owner Pulkit Arya (son of former BJP leader Vinod Arya), manager Saurabh Bhaskar, and assistant manager Ankit Gupta jointly committed the murder.
→ The allegation was that Ankita was asked for "extra services" (sexual favors), which she refused, leading to her being pushed into the canal in anger.
On May 30, 2025, the Kotdwar court sentenced all three to **life imprisonment**.
→ Charges included murder (IPC 302), evidence destruction (IPC 201), molestation (IPC 354A), and immoral trafficking.
The verdict came based on 47 witnesses and forensic evidence, but the family and activists consider it incomplete justice.
Ankita's mother, Soni Devi, stated: "The cruelty with which my daughter was killed deserves nothing less than the death penalty."
Bulldozer Action and Evidence Tampering Controversy Immediately after the murder, parts of the resort (including Ankita's room) were demolished with bulldozers on the night of September 23-24, 2022.
→ The family and opposition called it a deliberate attempt to destroy evidence.
A JCB operator testified in court that the action was carried out on instructions from BJP MLA **Renu Bisht** and the administration.
Police claimed the resort was videographed beforehand and no forensic evidence was lost, but experts noted that microscopic traces (DNA, hair, etc.) could have been destroyed.
→ Presented as "swift justice" by the government, it only fueled more suspicions.
Fresh Stir in 2025-26: VIP Angle and Urmila Sanawar's Claims The case had cooled after the 2025 verdict, but in December 2025, actress Urmila Sanawar (claiming to be the wife of former BJP MLA Suresh Rathore) released videos and audio clips on social media.
→ She alleged that the "VIP" who demanded services from Ankita was a senior BJP leader referred to as "Gattu" (allegedly **Dushyant Kumar Gautam**, BJP National General Secretary and Uttarakhand in-charge).
This sparked a storm across the state:
→ Opposition parties (Congress, UKD, CPI, etc.) intensified demands for a CBI probe.
→ Ankita's father, Virendra Singh Bhandari, sought a meeting with CM **Pushkar Singh Dhami**.
→ Ex-servicemen, women's organizations, and common people took to the streets.
→ Protests erupted in Dehradun, Haridwar, Tehri, and even reached Delhi's Jantar Mantar.
→ A statewide Uttarakhand Bandh was announced for January 11, 2026, supported by social organizations, opposition, and the family.
CM Dhami stated no VIP is involved and the investigation is complete, but he will meet Ankita's parents and act on their demands.
→ Police also rejected the VIP angle, claiming no influential person was found.
Dushyant Gautam called the allegations a political conspiracy, filed a defamation suit in Delhi High Court (which on January 7, 2026, granted interim relief and ordered removal of related posts by Congress, AAP, and others), and said he would resign if proven true.
Is There a Bigger "Module"? Epstein-Style Network Allegations Many view this as an Epstein-style sex racket where "special services" were provided to influential people at the resort.
→ Allegations suggest ruling party figures visited there.
However, no concrete evidence of such a network emerged in the investigation.
The family insists life imprisonment is insufficient; the real conspirators remain protected.
In the End: Challenges on the Path to Justice Ankita Bhandari's case has become a powerful symbol of women's safety, power abuse, and protection of the influential.
The January 11, 2026 bandh signals that people will no longer remain silent.
Key questions remain— Will there be a CBI investigation?
→ Will the truth of the VIP angle emerge?
→ Or will this case once again fade away?
Justice for Ankita will remain incomplete until every question is answered. #JusticeForAnkitaBhandari
Sajjadali Nayani ✍
Friday World January 7, 2026
