Ankita Bhandari murder: Urmila Sanawar reappears, vows 'complete evidence' to SIT amid safety fears

• Urmila Sanawar reappears in Dehradun, ready to face SIT probe in Bhandari case
• Sanawar pledges to submit evidence for Ankita Bhandari murder investigation
• Her viral clips sparked protests and calls for a CBI probe into the case

Did our AI summary help?

In a dramatic development that contradicted official statements, Urmila Sanawar, the woman whose viral accusations have roiled Uttarakhand politics, declared her availability in Dehradun on Tuesday evening. Her announcement came mere hours after Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami informed the media that she was missing.

Sanawar, who claims to be the wife of former BJP MLA Suresh Rathore, declared via a social media post that she was prepared to face a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe. She pledged to submit what she termed “complete evidence” to secure justice for Ankita Bhandari, the 19-year-old resort worker murdered in Rishikesh in September 2023.

Her re-emergence follows nearly ten days during which she was untraceable, with police actively searching for her. Her disappearance began shortly after three First Information Reports (FIRs) were registered against her in Haridwar and Dehradun on December 25. The cases stem from an audio and a video clip she released, which allegedly named prominent BJP figures in connection with the Bhandari murder case.

The clips, which circulated widely, ignited significant public protests across the state, fuelling demands for the identity of a referenced “VIP” to be disclosed and for the investigation to be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

In response to the furore, the state government constituted an SIT led by the Superintendent of Police (City) of Haridwar. Chief Minister Dhami confirmed that the controversial clips had been seized and sent for forensic examination. During her time underground, Sanawar escalated tensions by writing to the Senior Superintendent of Police in Dehradun, asserting she faced a threat to her life.

She returned to the state capital accompanied by Swami Darshan Bharti, a prominent right-wing leader who heads the Uttarakhand Raksha Abhiyan. Bharti stated that Sanawar had returned only after receiving assurances of security from the government and police. “Urmila Sanawar had feared for her life,” he told reporters, adding that he had remained in constant contact with officials regarding her safety.

In her social media statement, Sanawar struck a determined tone but also issued a caution. “I will get justice for Ankita with complete evidence,” she wrote, while also insisting that “the evidence provided by me must not be tampered with.”

Following her announcement, she presented herself before the SIT on Tuesday evening to record her statement. Uttarakhand police spokesperson SK Meena subsequently confirmed to the press that all evidence in Sanawar’s possession would be taken into custody by the investigating team as part of their proceedings.