Dehradun: Urmila Sanawar, the actress who triggered a political storm in Uttarakhand after alleging the involvement of a ‘VIP’ in the Ankita Bhandari murder case, was questioned by police for several hours on Wednesday, even as Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami personally met the victim’s parents and assured them of justice.
Sanawar reached Dehradun on Tuesday night and appeared before the police the following morning. During questioning, authorities reportedly seized multiple audio recordings from her mobile phone. These audio clips will now be sent for forensic examination, sources said.
Sanawar, who claims to be the wife of former MLA Suresh Rathore, has been asked to appear before the Special Investigation Team (SIT) in Haridwar on Thursday. Several FIRs have already been registered against her and Rathore after she released videos and audios on social media alleging a ‘VIP connection’ in Ankita’s murder case.
In one of her videos, Sanawar directly named BJP leader and state in-charge Dushyant Kumar Gautam as the alleged ‘VIP’. Following this, Gautam filed a case against Sanawar and Rathore, accusing them of conspiring against him with opposition support.
Chief Minister Meets Ankita’s Parents
Amid rising tension and public outcry, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami met Ankita’s parents — Virendra Singh Bhandari and Soni Devi — and assured them that providing justice remains the government’s highest priority. Dhami also said that a decision on recommending a CBI probe would be taken after discussing the matter with the family and reviewing legal aspects.
Background of the Case
Nineteen-year-old Ankita Bhandari, a receptionist at Vanantra Resort in Pauri, was murdered in 2022 by resort owner Pulkit Arya and two of his employees. All three have been sentenced to life imprisonment. However, demands for a CBI investigation resurfaced recently after Sanawar revived allegations of a powerful individual’s involvement.
Political Reactions Intensify
Uttarakhand Congress chief Ganesh Godiyal accused the government of delaying justice, stating Ankita’s family had been seeking a CBI probe since the murder. He also questioned why Vanantra Resort was demolished the very night Ankita’s body was recovered, hinting at intentional destruction of evidence. Congress demanded a CBI probe monitored by the High Court or Supreme Court to ensure transparency.
New Twist: Another Audio Surfaces
In a new development, another audio clip surfaced in which Sanawar allegedly claims she was pressured to name BJP leader Dushyant Gautam. The BJP responded sharply, stating the audio exposes a conspiracy to malign party leaders. BJP state president Mahendra Bhatt said those involved in spreading false allegations will soon be exposed.
With the investigation intensifying and political pressure mounting, the Ankita Bhandari case has once again become a major flashpoint in Uttarakhand, with the demand for a CBI probe gaining renewed momentum.