Saturday, 15 October 2022 | PNS | DEHRADUN
SIT probing Ankita Bhandari murder likely to file chargesheet in court within two weeks
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the Ankita murder case has revealed that the Vanantara resort where murder victim Ankita Bhandari worked as a receptionist was not registered under Uttarakhand tourism rules and it did not even have a no objection certificate from the fire service. The SIT has also written to the court for trial in a fast track court to bring the accused murderers to justice as soon as possible.
The Deputy Inspector General (DIG) P Renuka Devi who is heading the SIT informed that it was revealed during the investigation that the resort was not registered as per Uttarakhand tourism rules and did not have a fire NOC . She said that the police have written to the authorities concerned to take necessary action on the violations as per the rules and inform about it to the police as well. She also added that SIT has also written to the court for trial in a fast-track court. She said that the SIT is still investigating the murder from all angles to gather more evidence to go ahead with the necessary procedures in the case. The DIG further stated that the SIT has received some reports from Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) and it will get some more very soon. The officials also informed that the SIT has recorded the statements of over 30 witnesses so far out of which, six have reportedly testified before the court too. The body of 19-year-old Ankita Bhandari from Pauri district was recovered from the Chilla canal in Rishikesh on September 24. The police arrested Pulkit Arya- owner of Vanantra Resort and his two accomplices Ankit and Saurabh Bhaskar on September 23 as three accused in Ankita’s murder. The SIT has also recently added charges of sexual harassment under section 354A of Indian Penal Code and Section 5 of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act against them along with the charges of murder (IPC 302), criminal conspiracy (IPC 120B) and concealment of evidence (IPC 201) sections. The official sources informed that the Chandigarh FSL and Dehradun-based FSL have reportedly submitted their respective preliminary reports of the investigation of certain evidence to the court. The SIT is likely to file a chargesheet in court within two weeks on the basis of the evidence gathered in the case, as per the officials.
