The verdict in the Ankita murder case is expected today. This incident in Uttarakhand made headlines when the names of some VIPs were linked to it. This high-profile case saw numerous turns. A 500-page charge sheet was filed and 97 witnesses were presented. Finally, nearly two years later, a decision has been reached. All three accused have been found guilty.
Today, a hearing was held in the court of the Additional District and Sessions Judge of Kotdwar. The entire nation had its eyes on this verdict. The case’s three main suspects are - Pulkit Arya, Saurabh Bhaskar, and Ankit Gupta, all of whom have been found guilty by the court. Pulkit Arya was the owner of Vantara Resort. On September 18, 2022, Ankita disappeared under mysterious circumstances from this resort. Her body was later recovered from a canal, sparking outrage across the state.
Pulkit Arya faced charges under IPC Section 302 (murder), 201 (causing disappearance of evidence), 354A (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), and the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act. The other two accused faced charges for murder and abetting unethical acts. An SIT was formed to investigate, which submitted a charge sheet exceeding 500 pages. A total of 97 witnesses were named, out of which the prosecution presented 47. The verdict is now awaited.
Ankita disappeared from a resort on September 18, 2022
Ankita, a 19-year-old working as a receptionist at Vantara Resort near Rishikesh, vanished suddenly on September 18, 2022. Her body was recovered five days later on September 24 from the Chilla canal near Rishikesh. After her disappearance, the resort owner Pulkit Arya lodged a missing person report.
The resort owner and his associates committed the crime
Initial investigations revealed the resort's owner, Pulkit Arya, along with his two associates, played a role in Ankita's disappearance, murder, and disposal of her body in a canal. Early probes uncovered facts raising concerns about women's safety and dignity. It emerged that while working at the resort, Pulkit Arya pressured Ankita to provide 'extra services' to 'VIP' guests. Ankita refused, igniting the conflict.
All three accused are imprisoned
Subsequently, resort operator Pulkit Arya, along with two employees, allegedly pushed Ankita into the Chilla canal, resulting in her murder. Currently, the case’s main accused, Pulkit, and his associates - Ankit Gupta and Saurabh Bhaskar, are detained.
Read more: VIP Protection, System Lapses, and a Two-Year Wait... The Uttarakhand Court's Verdict in the Ankita Bhandari Case
Ankita's father made serious allegations
Ankita's father, Virendra Singh Bhandari, appealed for capital punishment for the murderers in his lifetime. He accused VIP Ajay Kumar of receiving political protection from the government, obstructing a fair investigation. This case has not only questioned Uttarakhand's law enforcement but has also fueled a nationwide debate on women's safety, political protection, and transparency in justice proceedings.
