After a case was registered against an unidentified VIP in the September 2022 Ankita Bhandari murder case in Pauri Garhwal, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has stepped up its investigation.
As part of this process, the CBI team that reached Dehradun has taken custody of key documents, including the Special Investigation Team (SIT) report, the police FIR, and other related documents.
The CBI team is also expected to soon record the statement of Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan awardee Dr Anil Prakash Joshi, who is the complainant in the FIR registered on January 9 at the Vasant Vihar police station in Dehradun.
The CBI registered the case through its Special Crime Branch based on the FIR, after Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami recommended a CBI probe into the matter.
The case gained widespread attention after alleged audio and video clips went viral on social media. In these clips, Urmila Sanawar, said to be the wife of a former BJP MLA from Jwalapur, spoke about the alleged involvement of a “VIP”.
Following the viral clips, large-scale protests broke out across the state, with people demanding a CBI investigation into the case.
Considering the prevailing situation, Chief Minister Dhami recommended a CBI investigation on January 9, 2026, into the Ankita Bhandari murder case, keeping in mind the sentiments of Ankita’s parents and the hardships they have faced.
Subsequently, the CBI’s Special Crime Branch registered a case against the unidentified VIP mentioned in the complaint.
Earlier, Dhami met Ankita’s parents, who demanded a CBI inquiry. He assured them of the government’s full support and said delivering justice to Uttarakhand’s daughter is the state government’s top priority, with complete seriousness, sensitivity, and transparency.
The Chief Minister also said that while the entire state stands with Ankita, her parents are the most affected by the tragedy. He reiterated the government’s firm commitment to ensuring the safety, dignity, and justice of daughters.
Ankita Bhandari, who worked as a receptionist at the Vanantra Resort in Rishikesh, was murdered in September 2022. Her body was found from the Cheela Canal on September 24. In the case, resort owner Pulkit Arya, manager Saurabh Bhaskar, and Ankita Gupta have already been sentenced to life imprisonment.
Also Read: Ankita Bhandari case: BJP’s Dushyant Gautam files plea in HC
Follow us
