HASAN HADI/Dehradun
Politics in the State has once again heated up over the Ankita Bhandari murder case. Opposition parties are demanding a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry and are also seeking disclosure of the name of the alleged VIP involved in the case. Advocates here have opined that if anyone wants a CBI probe, they should approach the Uttarakhand High Court and submit an application. The decision to order a further CBI investigation rests entirely with the court.
Senior advocate GC Sharma said that a CBI investigation in this case is not easy. He explained that the court has already given a decision on the punishment and the matter is now before the High Court. Because of this, starting a fresh CBI probe would not be that easy. He further said that if the old investigating officer takes permission from the High Court for further investigation and gets approval, only then can the government recommend a CBI inquiry. Even after that, the process would be long and complicated.
Sharma also said that if a CBI inquiry is allowed, the case may have to be heard again in the lower court after the High Court’s order. He stated that the entire process is complex and not easy to carry out.
Meanwhile, Dehradun Bar Association president Manmohan Kandwal said that the court has already delivered its judgment in the Ankita Bhandari case. He added that if anyone is demanding a CBI probe, the matter lies with the High Court. Those seeking a CBI investigation should submit an application before the High Court, and further action will be taken only if the court approves it.
It will be recalled that a session court in Uttarakhand’s Kotdwar on May 29, 2025 awarded life imprisonment to three men, including Pulkit Arya, for the murder of 19-year-old Ankita Bhandari, who had worked as a receptionist at a resort owned by the accused.
