Ex-BJP MLA Suresh Rathore arrested over viral audio-video clip linked to Ankita Bhandari murder case

DEHRADUN/HARIDWAR: Former BJP MLA Suresh Rathore has been arrested in connection with an investigation into a viral audio-video clip related to the alleged naming of a “VIP” in the Ankita Bhandari murder case.Rathore was detained from his office in Buggawala, Haridwar, and taken to the Dalanwala police station in Dehradun, where he was formally arrested, superintendent of police (City) Pramod Kumar said.The arrest comes three days after Rathore held a press conference in which he claimed that the Uttarakhand high court had quashed two of the four FIRs registered against him at the Bahadrabad and Jhabrera police stations, news agency PTI reported.However, a single-judge bench of Justice Rakesh Thapliyal allowed the police investigation to continue in the remaining two FIRs, police informed on Monday.The FIRs were registered against Rathore over the alleged circulation of objectionable audio and video clips on social media related to the case. The complainants, Dushyant Gautam and Aarti Gaur, alleged that the material was deliberately circulated to tarnish their reputation, PTI reported.

According to police, Gautam lodged a complaint at the Dalanwala police station on January 5, alleging that Rathore had conspired with actress Urmila Sanawar and certain political parties.It was alleged that Gautam, BJP national general secretary and Uttarakhand in-charge, was identified by Rathore as the “VIP” in the clips.The complainant further alleged that the accused fabricated false audio and video clips to defame senior party leaders and incite public unrest.

Based on the complaint, a case was initially registered under Sections 61(2), 336(4), 353(2) and 356(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and Section 66(D) of the IT Act, PTI reported.Based on evidence and statements collected by the Dehradun police during the investigation, Section 308(6) of the BNS, related to extortion, was also invoked separately.Speaking to reporters in Haridwar on Friday, Rathore denied releasing any audio or video clips on social media or making remarks against senior party leaders or the chief minister. He claimed that a conspiracy had been hatched to damage his political career.Following his arrest, Rathore was produced before a local court, which remanded him to 14 days of judicial custody at the Suddhowala district jail.(With agency inputs)