PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE /Dehradun
The three convicts in the 2022 Ankita Bhandari murder case are serving life sentences after being found guilty by a Kotdwar court in May 2025, additional director general of police (Crime and Law & Order) V Murugesan said while addressing the media here on Thursday. The investigation was completed in 88 days and the Special Investigation Team (SIT) filed a chargesheet of about 500 pages in court.
Murugesan said that the Uttarakhand police arrested all three accused within 24 hours of the case coming to light. Bhandari worked at the Vanantara Resort near Rishikesh, where the incident took place in September 2022.
Considering the seriousness of the case, an SIT was formed on the directions of chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. A woman IPS officer of deputy inspector general (DIG) rank was appointed to lead the team, he said.
The ADG said that the SIT collected digital, technical, forensic and physical evidence during the investigation. The team also questioned the accused and examined forensic reports and witness statements to establish the facts of the case.
Murugesan said that the State government had taken steps to ensure a speedy trial and effective prosecution. The additional district and sessions court in Kotdwar convicted Pulkit Arya, Saurabh Bhaskar and Ankit Gupta on May 30, 2025 and sentenced all three to rigorous imprisonment for life.
