Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has broken his silence on the renewed controversy surrounding the Ankita Bhandari murder case, suggesting a deliberate conspiracy is at play to obstruct his government's work. Speaking to the media in Dehradun on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, Dhami promised to personally meet the victim's parents and act on their demands to secure justice, while firmly stating that no one would be shielded from investigation.
CM Dhami Points to a Pattern of Politicisation
In his first reaction since new allegations emerged via an audio clip, CM Dhami drew parallels with previous protests. "When the paper leak protests began, it was also sparked by an audio. This time, another audio clip has led to the current state. Doesn't this look like a conspiracy to you?" he questioned. He emphasized a pattern of issues being politicized but asserted his government's commitment to due process. "No one has been let off, and no one will be spared if evidence is found against them," Dhami stated.
The case dates back to September 2022, when 19-year-old receptionist Ankita Bhandari was murdered at the Vanantara resort in Rishikesh. The resort's manager, Pulkit Arya—son of former BJP leader Vinod Arya—was convicted along with two others. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) found that Bhandari was being forced to provide sexual favours and was killed when she resisted. The three accused were sentenced to life imprisonment.
The VIP Angle and Fresh Audio Allegations
Despite persistent rumours about a VIP's presence at the crime scene, the original SIT claimed it found no evidence of an influential person's involvement. The matter reached the Supreme Court, which disposed of a plea for a CBI probe in March 2025 as the trial was proceeding.
The case was reignited in December 2025 when Urmila Sanawar, wife of former BJP MLA Suresh Rathore, released a video alleging a senior BJP leader was the VIP. She later posted an audio clip of a purported conversation with Rathore, where he identified the VIP as a leader named 'Gattu'. This led to speculation pointing at BJP national general secretary Dushyant Gautam, who has since filed defamation cases against Sanawar, Rathore, and Congress president Ganesh Godiyal.
Government's Stance and Promise of Action
Reiterating the sequence of events, CM Dhami detailed the government's actions: immediate arrest of the accused, formation of an SIT led by a woman IPS officer, public appeals for evidence, and the eventual life sentences. Addressing the new audio, he said, "We appointed an SIT to look into this and to check the credibility of these claims... We need to look into the veracity of the audio clip." He also pointed out contradictions within the audio itself.
Dhami made a direct commitment to Ankita Bhandari's family: "I will meet them in person and discuss what needs to be done. I will go with their demands to help them obtain justice for their daughter." He assured that his government would not shy away from any probe the parents might demand.
Regarding the individuals behind the new allegations, the CM stated that police are conducting raids to locate Urmila Sanawar and Suresh Rathore, who was expelled from the BJP for similar activities earlier. "They need to come forward and tell us why they said what they said," Dhami added.
Concluding his address, the Chief Minister slammed the Congress for "politicising" the sensitive matter, claiming the opposition has to manufacture an adverse environment due to a loss of public trust. He also referenced his government's responsive approach, citing the cancellation of an exam following student protests, and affirmed, "We want justice for Ankita, and she is our daughter."
