PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE /Dehradun
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has started its investigation into the Ankita Bhandari murder case. The CBI has registered a case against unknown persons. According to sources, after registering the case, a six-member CBI team reached Dehradun on Monday to begin the investigation.
The case recently came back into the spotlight after a viral audio allegedly involving former MLA Suresh Rathore and actress Urmila Sanawar surfaced. The viral audio raised serious questions about the role of influential people in the case. After this, there was widespread political and social reaction.
Earlier, chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami had recommended a CBI investigation into the matter. On Monday, the CBI team arrived in Dehradun. Meanwhile, it has also been confirmed that a case has been registered against an unidentified VIP in connection with the case. Amid growing controversy and public pressure, Dhami sent a recommendation to the Central government for an impartial and independent CBI investigation.
After receiving approval from the Centre, the CBI team has now reached Uttarakhand and started the investigation process. It is believed that the probe will move forward with the help of the local team. The case dates back to September 2022, when Bhandari, a native of Pauri district and an employee at the Vanantra Resort, was murdered. In this case, on May 30, 2024, the district court convicted all three accused, including resort owner Pulkit Arya, and sentenced them to life imprisonment. During the investigation, it was revealed that Ankita was allegedly pressurised to provide special services to a VIP, but the SIT investigation could not establish the identity of that VIP.
According to sources, the CBI team will closely examine the earlier SIT investigation, charge sheet, call detail records, forensic reports, and other important documents. The agency may also re-question witnesses connected to the case. The scope of the CBI investigation will be decided by keeping in view all previously known facts and the new allegations. The CBI will also investigate whether any VIP had a role in the murder case.
