Uttarakhand protests and political pressure over the Ankita Bhandari murder case

The Hindu
The Hindu
3h ago
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami recommended a CBI probe into the 2022 murder of 19-year-old receptionist Ankita Bhandari as statewide protests and political pressure demanded a fresh investigation and identification of a purported “VIP.”
Uttarakhand protests and political pressure over the Ankita Bhandari murder case
A What happened
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami recommended a CBI probe into the Ankita Bhandari murder case on January 9, 2026, as protests across Uttarakhand demanded justice. Dhami said the recommendation was made to respect the sentiments of Bhandari’s parents and the people of Uttarakhand, and said the government aimed to ensure justice in a fair, transparent, and sensitive manner. A sessions court in Kotdwar awarded life imprisonment in May 2025 to three people for the murder, including resort owner Pulkit Arya and two friends. The demand for a fresh CBI investigation intensified after actress Urmila Sanawar alleged in a social media live that the “VIP” in the case was a senior State BJP leader, and the Delhi High Court approved relief sought by leaders for removal of posts and news about allegations linking one of them to the case.

Key insights

  • 1

    Public protests and intra-party pressure drove renewed calls for investigation: Statewide protests and demands from BJP office bearers, MPs, and senior leaders are stated as factors that increased pressure for a fresh inquiry and a CBI probe recommendation.

  • 2

    A “VIP” allegation became a focal point for renewed outrage: Urmila Sanawar’s allegation that a senior State BJP leader was the “VIP,” plus Delhi High Court-approved removal of posts and news about the allegation, is stated as triggering fresh demands to identify the “VIP.”},{

Takeaways

The Uttarakhand government has recommended a CBI probe into Ankita Bhandari’s murder case while protests and political leaders continue to demand identification of the alleged “VIP” and accountability for alleged evidence destruction.

Topics

World & Politics Governance Investigations Law & Public Safety Crime & Justice Courts Law Enforcement

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