Ankita Bhandari murder: ‘VIP’ in chats identified as 'Pradhan' from Noida; Uttarakhand shutdown call on Jan 11

Ankita Bhandari

• Police deny any VIP involvement in Ankita Bhandari murder case
• Protestors demand CBI probe and call for statewide shutdown on January 11
• Court sentenced resort owner and two others to life imprisonment for the murder

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Amid renewed demands for a CBI probe in the Ankita Bhandari murder case, Haridwar Rural SP Shekhar Suyal said the police investigation did not find the involvement of any “VIP”.

He told reporters that the person mentioned in chats and questioning, Dharmendra Kumar alias Pradhan from Noida, was Ankita’s friend and not a VIP.

According to police, he had visited the area for work two days before the murder and briefly stopped at the resort only to have a meal. Resort records and staff statements also confirmed that no VIP was involved.

The issue resurfaced after Urmila Sanawar, who claims to be the wife of former BJP MLA Suresh Rathore, released videos and audio clips alleging that a person named “Gattu” was the VIP mentioned in the case.

She claimed that Gattu is a senior BJP leader in Uttarakhand. Rathore, who has been expelled from the BJP, rejected the allegations, saying the audio clips were fake and created using AI to damage his image.

The Uttarakhand government said on Friday that it is open to any investigation if strong evidence is presented. Meanwhile, opposition leaders have demanded a CBI inquiry into the new allegations. Ankita Bhandari, a 19-year-old receptionist at a resort in Pauri district, was allegedly murdered in September 2022.

A Special Investigation Team (SIT) probed the case, and the court later sentenced resort owner Pulkit Arya and two others to life imprisonment.

Protests and statewide shutdown call

On Sunday, members of civil society groups, social organisations and political parties marched towards Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami’s residence in Dehradun, demanding a CBI probe, but police stopped them.

Former chief minister and Congress leader Harish Rawat also began a six-day foot march from Haridwar to press for a CBI inquiry.

Activist Mohit Dimri announced a call for a statewide shutdown on January 11, warning that protests would continue unless all alleged VIPs are brought under investigation.

“On January 11, we will enforce a statewide shutdown across Uttarakhand. We will hold discussions with all traders’ associations and seek their support. We have given the government a one-week ultimatum. Within this period, VIPs must be brought under the ambit of investigation,” said Mohit Dimri, convenor of the Mool Niwas, Bhoo Kanoon Samanvay Sangharsh Samiti.