In a significant development, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami announced on Friday the recommendation for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into the alleged involvement of a 'mysterious VIP' in the 2022 murder of a 19-year-old receptionist at a resort in Rishikesh. The resort is owned by the son of a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader.
Pressure from Protests and Parents Leads to Decision
The chief minister's decision came after days of sustained protests by various people's groups and the opposition Congress party. It also followed a crucial meeting between Dhami and the victim's parents just two days prior. The parents had handed him a letter explicitly demanding a CBI investigation supervised by a Supreme Court judge to guarantee impartiality.
In their letter, the girl's father asserted that his daughter was murdered because of a "VIP" whose identity remains shrouded in mystery. The parents later reiterated their demand in an interaction, vowing they "won't rest" until the VIP is identified.
CM's Assurance and Case Background
Announcing the move, CM Pushkar Singh Dhami stated, "From the very beginning, our aim has been to ensure justice in a fair, transparent and sensitive manner, and that commitment will continue. We had assured the victim's parents that the line of probe they suggested would be followed; therefore, respecting their sentiments, a CBI probe is being recommended."
He highlighted that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by a senior woman IPS officer had already probed the case. Based on that investigation, a court in Kotdwar sentenced the three primary accused—resort owner Pulkit Arya and his associates Ankit Gupta and Saurabh Bhaskar—to life imprisonment in May 2025. None of the accused were granted bail during the trial, and all three are currently serving life terms in jail.
Audio Clips Spark Political Firestorm and Legal Wrangling
The case erupted back into the political spotlight last month after audio and video clips, allegedly released by Haridwar-based actor Urmila Sanawar, circulated online. In these clips, expelled former BJP MLA Suresh Rathore—whom Sanawar claimed was her husband—is purportedly heard referring to a "VIP." He allegedly identified this individual as BJP national general secretary and Uttarakhand in-charge Dushyant Gautam.
Gautam vehemently denied the allegations and filed defamation charges against the couple. The matter escalated to the Delhi High Court, where Gautam sought the removal of "defamatory content" and Rs 2 crore in damages from Rathore, Sanawar, Congress, and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). On Wednesday, the court ordered Congress and AAP to remove, within 24 hours, any social media posts linking Gautam to the case and restrained them from posting further such content.
Meanwhile, Urmila Sanawar was questioned by the SIT on Thursday after being untraceable for several days. Suresh Rathore surfaced in Haridwar a day after the Uttarakhand High Court stayed his arrest in all cases related to the audio clips. He was questioned by the SIT on Friday, where he claimed the controversial clips were "AI-generated."
Political Reactions and the Path Forward
The audio clips had triggered fresh protests across Uttarakhand, with Congress and social organizations planning renewed demonstrations from January 11. Reacting to the CBI probe recommendation, state Congress chief Ganesh Godiyal said, "By recommending a CBI probe, the govt has accepted that there were faults in the initial probe. This is a win for the people and Congress." He demanded the investigation be conducted under a Supreme Court or high court judge's supervision.
Rajya Sabha MP and state BJP chief Mahendra Bhatt welcomed the decision, calling it aligned with public sentiment. "Respecting the sentiments of her parents, the govt made the decision. The opposition has been politicising this issue from the beginning. But to ensure that there is not even the slightest doubt, the CBI investigation has been recommended," Bhatt stated, adding it would expose the opposition's "lies."
CASE TIMELINE
- September 2022: 19-year-old woman joins the Rishikesh resort as a receptionist.
- September 18, 2022: She goes missing.
- September 19, 2022: Her father lodges an FIR with revenue police.
- September 24, 2022: SDRF recovers her body from the Chilla canal.
- December 16, 2022: 500-page chargesheet filed against three accused.
- May 30, 2025: ADJ court, Kotdwar, sentences all three accused to life imprisonment.
- December 2025: Urmila Sanawar releases audio clips insinuating Dushyant Gautam is the "VIP."
- January 7, 2026: Victim's parents meet CM Dhami and demand CBI probe.
- January 9, 2026: CM recommends CBI probe; Suresh Rathore appears before SIT.
