A Landmark Verdict in a Haunting Case: After nearly three years of protests, investigations, and public outcry, Ankita Bhandari’s killers face rigorous life terms. But for her grieving parents, the fight for true justice isn’t over.BY
PC Bureau
Dehradun – In a landmark verdict that has brought a measure of closure to a case that shook Uttarakhand and sparked nationwide outrage, a court in Pauri district’s Kotdwar sentenced three individuals—Pulkit Arya, Saurabh Bhaskar, and Ankit Gupta—to rigorous life imprisonment for the brutal murder of 19-year-old receptionist Ankita Bhandari in 2022. The verdict, delivered by Additional District and Sessions Judge Reena Negi, marks the culmination of a nearly three-year legal battle that exposed allegations of abuse, political influence, and systemic failures in the initial investigation. The court also imposed a fine of ₹50,000 on each accused and awarded ₹4 lakh in compensation to Ankita’s grieving family.
The Tragic Incident
Ankita Bhandari, a young woman from Dobh Srikot in Pauri Garhwal, was employed as a receptionist at the Vanantra Resort in Yamkeshwar, owned by Pulkit Arya, the son of former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Vinod Arya. On the night of September 18, 2022, Ankita went missing after a heated altercation with Pulkit Arya and his associates, Saurabh Bhaskar (resort manager) and Ankit Gupta (assistant manager). According to the prosecution, the dispute arose when Ankita resisted pressure to provide “special services” to a VIP guest at the resort, a demand she had confided about to friends and a former colleague. Later that night, the trio allegedly pushed her into the Chilla canal near Rishikesh, leading to her death. Her body was recovered six days later on September 24, 2022, bearing multiple injury marks, intensifying public anger over the crime.
The case gained national attention due to its shocking details, the political connections of the main accused, and allegations of a cover-up. Pulkit Arya’s father, Vinod Arya, a former Minister of State in the BJP-led government under Trivendra Singh Rawat, and his brother, Ankit Arya, then Vice President of the Uttarakhand OBC Commission, were expelled from the party following public outcry. The incident also raised questions about the misuse of political influence and the safety of women in workplaces.
Big news : All three accused of Ankita Bhandari murder case have been sentenced to lifetime imprisonment by the court.
Uttarakhand CM @pushkardhami had assured justice to the family. pic.twitter.com/Bz1LhIEOyZ— Mr Sinha (@MrSinha_) May 30, 2025
Investigation and Public Outcry
The initial investigation faced significant criticism for its handling by the revenue police, who were first informed of Ankita’s disappearance by Pulkit Arya on September 19, 2022. The revenue police officer, Vaibhav Pratap, failed to act promptly and went on leave, delaying the case’s transfer to the regular police until September 22. Ankita’s father, Virendra Singh Bhandari, faced bureaucratic hurdles when attempting to file a missing person’s complaint, visiting multiple police stations without success. The family’s frustration was compounded when parts of the Vanantra Resort were demolished by the district administration shortly after the murder, sparking allegations of evidence destruction. A JCB driver later testified in court that he was summoned twice on September 23, 2022, to raze the resort’s gate, boundary wall, and two rooms, allegedly on the orders of BJP MLA Renu Bisht and then-Sub-Divisional Magistrate Pramod Kumar.
The case ignited widespread protests across Uttarakhand, with locals blocking the Rishikesh-Badrinath highway and setting fire to parts of the resort. The public demanded justice for Ankita and a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe, citing distrust in the state’s Special Investigation Team (SIT), led by Deputy Inspector General P. Renuka Devi. Despite the SIT filing a 500-page chargesheet in December 2022, which included statements from 100 witnesses and over 30 pieces of documentary evidence, Ankita’s parents and supporters, including the Congress party and the “Justice for Ankita” Committee, continued to allege a cover-up to protect influential figures.
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Ankita’s mother, Soni Devi, a postgraduate and former anganwadi worker, and her father, Virendra, a former clerical worker, staged multiple dharnas in Srinagar, Pauri Garhwal, demanding the death penalty for the accused and the arrest of those allegedly involved in destroying evidence. Soni Devi specifically questioned the role of a “senior RSS functionary” who reportedly pressured Pulkit Arya to coerce Ankita into providing “extra services.” The SIT’s investigation also revealed that Ankita had confided in her friend Pushpdeep and a former resort employee about the resort being a “den of vice” and her intent to quit after receiving her salary.
Legal Proceedings
The trial, which began on January 30, 2023, and saw its final arguments on May 19, 2025, was marked by intense scrutiny. The prosecution, led by advocate Anuj Pundir, presented 47 witnesses, including the investigating officer, and relied on a robust chargesheet that charged the accused under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including Section 302 (murder), Section 201 (destruction of evidence), Section 120B (criminal conspiracy), and Section 354A (sexual harassment), as well as provisions of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act. Pulkit Arya was additionally charged with molestation and immoral trafficking.
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The defense argued that the lack of forensic evidence, due to the partial demolition of the resort, weakened the case. However, the prosecution countered with witness testimonies, including affidavits from resort staff who reported hearing Ankita screaming and crying on the night of her murder, and a video showing her riding pillion with Pulkit Arya on his scooter, followed by her fearful message to Pushpdeep: “I’m with these guys. I’m very scared.” The court rejected a petition to transfer the case to the CBI, expressing satisfaction with the SIT’s investigation.
Efforts to conduct narco and polygraph tests on the accused faced resistance. While Pulkit Arya consented to the tests, Saurabh Bhaskar and Ankit Gupta initially refused, citing a lack of clarity from the SIT on the need for such tests after the chargesheet was filed. The court eventually permitted the tests for Pulkit Arya but denied them for the other two.
On May 30, 2025, Judge Reena Negi pronounced the guilty verdict, convicting Pulkit Arya, Saurabh Bhaskar, and Ankit Gupta of Ankita’s murder. The life imprisonment sentence was met with mixed reactions. Ankita’s mother, Soni Devi, expressed disappointment, reiterating her demand for the death penalty: “I request that the accused be hanged… I plead with my sisters that they support her mother and father.” Her father, Virendra, echoed this sentiment, stating, “As long as the accused are not hanged, we will have to protest and take to the streets.” The family also highlighted unfulfilled promises by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, who in 2023 had pledged to build a nursing college in Ankita’s name.
The verdict was widely discussed on social media, with posts on X reflecting public sentiment. One user, @fptarun, wrote, “Justice for Ankita Bhandari All 3 accused sentenced to rigorous life imprisonment by Uttarakhand court today.” Another, @Indian_Analyzer, noted the state government’s support, including jobs provided to Ankita’s father and brother and the invocation of the Gangster Act against the accused. However, allegations of political interference persisted, with some questioning why the “VIP guest” referenced in the case was never identified.
The Ankita Bhandari case has become a symbol of the fight for women’s safety and justice in India, highlighting issues of workplace exploitation, political influence, and the challenges of securing justice in high-profile cases. The Congress party and activists have continued to demand a CBI probe, alleging that the SIT failed to investigate the role of the alleged VIP guest or the destruction of evidence. The case also led to the arrest of journalist Ashutosh Negi in 2024, who was vocal about seeking justice for Ankita, prompting accusations of the state government suppressing dissent.
As Uttarakhand grapples with the fallout of this tragedy, the sentencing of the three accused offers a step toward accountability, though Ankita’s family and supporters remain steadfast in their pursuit of what they believe is full justice. The case serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities faced by young women in the workplace and the need for systemic reforms to prevent such tragedies in the future.
