DEHRADUN: The Uttarakhand government has defended its response to the 2022 murder of resort receptionist Ankita Bhandari. It points to quick arrests, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe, a court trial and financial help for her family. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami’s government also says it acted on the family’s requests about government lawyers and a possible Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry.
What happened
Ankita Bhandari worked as a receptionist at Vanantara Resort in Ganga-Bhogpur, Pauri Garhwal district. She disappeared on September 18, 2022. Her body was found in the Cheela canal a few days later.
The government says police arrested resort owner Pulkit Arya and employees Saurabh Bhaskar and Ankit Gupta within 24 hours of the case coming to light. It says an SIT was formed, investigators filed a chargesheet based on evidence and witness statements, and prosecutors presented the case in court. The accused were also booked under the Gangsters and Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act.
Court verdict
In May 2023, a Kotdwar court sentenced all three men to life imprisonment for the murder. The government said the verdict came after the court studied the evidence given by the prosecution. It added that the conviction and sentence were decisions of the judiciary, and that it supported the prosecution while respecting the independence of the courts.
The CBI inquiry request
On December 21, 2022, the Uttarakhand High Court dismissed a petition asking to move the investigation to the CBI. Journalist Ashutosh Negi filed it, and Bhandari’s parents later joined him.
The petitioners alleged a “VIP angle” and the destruction of evidence. The SIT, led by an officer of Deputy Inspector General rank, told the court that it had carried out forensic tests, videography, statements under the Code of Criminal Procedure and analysis of call records. It also said a medical panel from AIIMS Rishikesh had conducted the post-mortem.
Government’s claims on help for the family
Cabinet minister Subodh Uniyal told TNIE that the government changed its lawyers in the case at the family’s request. He said the state gave importance to the family’s feelings and demands throughout the case. He added that after the parents asked for a CBI probe, the Chief Minister “initiated steps to take the process forward”.
Uniyal also said the state gave the family Rs 25 lakh in financial help and arranged jobs for relatives. According to him, this was done to support the family’s money needs alongside the court process.
Public anger and the government’s response
The murder led to protests and brought more attention to women’s safety and the rules for resorts in Uttarakhand. Dhami said strict action against crimes against women and justice for victims’ families remain the government’s top priorities. He added that the government must ensure lawful action, address the family’s worries within the law and provide help.
The government says it considered the family’s wishes while following the proper legal process. The parents’ CBI request and the High Court’s dismissal of the transfer petition are part of the case’s legal record.
