The grieving parents of Ankita Bhandari, the 19-year-old receptionist who was brutally murdered in Uttarakhand in September 2022, have made a fervent appeal for justice. Virendra Singh Bhandari and Soni Devi have outrightly rejected the findings of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) and are now demanding a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). They believe the current investigation has failed to uncover the complete truth and suspect a larger conspiracy involving influential figures.
A Father's Relentless Quest for Truth
Virendra Singh Bhandari, Ankita's father, has been at the forefront of the fight for a comprehensive investigation. He has expressed deep dissatisfaction with the SIT's closure report, which was submitted to a court in Pauri. According to Mr. Bhandari, the SIT's conclusions are incomplete and have left critical questions unanswered. He alleges that the investigation was conducted under political pressure, aiming to shield the real perpetrators and the masterminds behind the crime.
The key accused in the case is Pulkit Arya, the son of a former BJP leader and the owner of the Vanantara resort in Rishikesh where Ankita worked. Arya, along with two accomplices, Saurabh Bhaskar and Ankit Gupta, was arrested for pushing Ankita into the Chilla canal after she resisted their illicit demands. While the SIT filed a chargesheet against the trio, the family insists the probe did not go deep enough.
Allegations of a Broader Conspiracy
The family's legal counsel, Dushyant Tyagi, has outlined several grounds for seeking a CBI investigation. He argues that the SIT ignored crucial evidence and did not probe the possible involvement of other powerful individuals connected to the resort. The parents suspect that their daughter was targeted because she was being pressured for immoral activities and had threatened to expose the operations at the resort. They believe the murder was not merely the act of three individuals but part of a more extensive network that needs to be exposed.
"We have no faith in the SIT probe. Only a CBI inquiry can bring out the full truth and ensure that everyone involved, no matter how influential, is punished," stated Virendra Singh Bhandari during a press interaction. The family has submitted a formal application to the district administration, urging them to recommend a CBI probe to the state government.
Political Repercussions and Public Outcry
The murder of Ankita Bhandari had triggered massive public outrage across Uttarakhand last year, leading to violent protests and calls for swift justice. The case also had significant political ramifications, bringing the state's law and order under scrutiny. The main accused's political connections added fuel to the fire, with opposition parties accusing the government of attempting a cover-up.
The SIT, headed by Deputy Inspector General (DIG) P. Renuka Devi, had concluded its investigation and filed a chargesheet within the stipulated 90 days. However, the family's persistent allegations of an incomplete probe have kept the case in the public eye. They are now pinning their hopes on the judiciary and higher authorities to transfer the case to the central agency.
As the legal battle continues, the demand for a CBI probe into Ankita Bhandari's murder highlights a crisis of public trust in state-level investigations, especially when they involve individuals with political clout. The family's struggle symbolizes the fight for accountability and the quest for unvarnished justice in a high-profile crime that shook the conscience of the state.
