Ankita Bhandari murder: CBI registers fresh case in Delhi with 'VIP' angle back in focus

Ankita Bhandari

• CBI Delhi registers case in Ankita Bhandari murder, focusing on alleged VIP role
• Case taken over from Uttarakhand Police after protests and CM's advice
• CBI investigates viral clips alleging powerful ties, separate from murder trial.

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In a significant procedural move, the Special Crime Branch (Branch-2) of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in Delhi has formally registered a case in connection with the 2022 murder of Ankita Bhandari.

The registration at the agency’s national headquarters underscores the heightened profile and potential interstate dimensions of the investigation, which has been reignited by explosive allegations of a powerful, unnamed ‘VIP’s’ involvement.

The case was officially taken over from the Uttarakhand Police on Monday, following a formal recommendation from Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami’s government on January 9. This recommendation came in direct response to massive public protests and a demand from the victim’s father for an inquiry supervised by a Supreme Court judge.

While three primary accused — resort owner Pulkit Arya, manager Saurabh Bhaskar and employee Ankit Gupta — are already serving life imprisonment for the murder, the new CBI case is understood to focus on the alleged role of a “VIP”.

This angle was propelled into the public domain by viral audio and video clips shared by actress Urmila Sanawar, who claims to be the wife of a former BJP legislator.

The Delhi branch’s involvement typically indicates a complex investigation that may span jurisdictions or involve particularly sensitive elements. The registration of the case in the capital, rather than at a state-level CBI unit, marks a clear escalation in the official response to the allegations that have roiled Uttarakhand politics in recent weeks.

Chief Minister Dhami has stated that separate police complaints have been filed regarding the viral material, but the central agency’s entry now places the broader “VIP” question under the purview of India’s premier investigative body.

The CBI’s Special Crime Branch handles a range of serious offences, including those related to organised crime and high-profile criminal conspiracies.

The move effectively bifurcates the legal proceedings: the original conviction for the physical murder stands, while a fresh, potentially politically charged investigation into the circumstances and powerful influences surrounding the crime begins anew from Delhi.