Ankita Bhandari murder: Ex-BJP MLA arrested for ‘conspiring to link senior party leader to case’

Ankita Bhandari was a 19-year-old receptionist at Vanantara resort in Rishikesh, who was killed on September 18, 2022, by its manager, Pulkit Arya, the son of former BJP leader Vinod Arya, barely 20 days after she joined the resort.

In December, Sanawar shared an audio clip of an alleged conversation with Rathore to insinuate that Gautam was linked to the case.

Gautam had alleged that the accused posted and disseminated false audio and video recordings on social media, attempting to disturb public peace, provoke unrest, and incite disorder and riots.

In January, Gautam, who is also the former SC Morcha president, had moved the Delhi High Court, accusing Sanawar, Rathore, and Opposition parties of defaming him. The court had directed the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party to remove within 24 hours social media posts linking Gautam to the murder. Since the videos were posted, multiple FIRs have been registered in Haridwar and Dehradun.

Speaking at a press conference, SSP Dehradun, Parmendra Dobhal, said that during the course of the investigation, based on witness statements, evidence, and other facts collected, investigators also found grounds to invoke the section pertaining to extortion against Rathore.

“Acting on information received from an informant, a police team arrested Rathore on Sunday. He was produced before the court, which remanded him to 14 days of judicial custody and sent him to Sudhowala District Jail,” the officer said.

Sanawar and Rathore had earlier claimed that they were married, and this was followed by his ouster from the BJP for six years for allegedly violating the Uniform Civil Code, which prohibits polygamy. He later claimed that he was not married to Sanawar.