Dehradun: The parents of Ankita Bhandari, the 19-year-old killed three years ago, raised two key demands at their meeting with Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami—a second probe, this time by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and the identification of the “VIP” allegedly involved in the case.
Speaking publicly for the first time since renewed protests rocked the state, Virendra Singh Bhandari and his wife Usha Devi told reporters they had received a call from the District Magistrate (Pauri) informing them the CM wanted to meet them in Dehradun.
“We have requested a CBI probe in this matter. We have wanted it from the beginning, and the people also wanted that,” Virendra Singh Bhandari said. “There has been involvement of a VIP, and we want to know who it is. There should be a CBI probe, and it should be conducted under the supervision of a sitting judge.”
The parents said Dhami assured them their demands would be considered. Soon after the meeting, the Chief Minister announced the renaming of Government Nursing College Dobh (Shri Kot) in Pauri as ‘Late Ankita Bhandari Government Nursing college Dobh’.
“Our government stands firmly with the victim’s family. Legal, impartial and swift action is being advanced on the demands presented by them,” Dhami said.
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Ankita was less than a month into her job as a receptionist at a resort near Rishikesh when she went missing in September 2022. Her body was found days later.
A Special Investigation Team was formed to probe the case. Consequently, the resort’s owner, who is the son of a former BJP leader, and two of his associates were arrested and sentenced to life imprisonment for her murder. According to the SIT probe, Ankita was killed after she refused sexual favours.
Three years after the murder, fresh allegations surfaced over Ankita’s killing. Actor Urmila Sanawar, who claims to have been married to a former BJP MLA Suresh Rathore, said she was told Ankita was killed after refusing to provide “extra services” to a VIP leader referred to as “Gattu”.
In a clip, Rathore is purportedly heard linking BJP national general secretary and in charge of Uttarakhand, Dushyant Gautam, to the case. Gautam has denied the accusations and filed a defamation suit against Sanawar and Rathore, among others.
On Wednesday, after the meeting with Dhami, Virendra Singh appealed to the people of Uttarakhand to stand by him until his daughter receives justice.
“Even the CM told me that whosoever is involved, they will take stronger action against them,” he said.
(Edited by Prerna Madan)
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