Three years after the brutal murder of 19-year-old Ankita Bhandari, the case continues to haunt the Pushkar Singh Dhami-led Uttarakhand government, with fresh allegations of a VIP's involvement sparking public outrage and renewed demands for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry. The state witnessed multiple candlelight marches on New Year's Eve, setting the stage for a larger protest scheduled for January 4 at the Chief Minister's residence.
Candlelight Marches and a Looming Showdown
As the clock ticked towards the new year, citizens across Uttarakhand gathered not for celebration, but for remembrance and demand for justice. Candlelight vigils were held in several parts of the state, including in Paithani, Pauri Garhwal. In the capital, Dehradun, the Congress party led a march attended by its National Secretary of the Communications Department, Vaibhav Walia. These peaceful demonstrations are a precursor to a significant confrontation planned for January 4, when Ankita's family, along with civil society groups like the Uttarakhand Mahila Manch, will protest at the CM's residence.
The sustained movement gained fresh momentum from explosive claims made by Urmila Sanawar, the wife of former BJP MLA Suresh Rathore. She alleged that a VIP who sought sexual favours from Ankita was a senior leader nicknamed "Gattu." Sanawar released an audio clip where Rathore purportedly identifies the VIPs as BJP national general secretary Dushyant Gautam and another senior party figure. Rathore later dismissed the clip as AI-generated and accused his wife of defamation, while Gautam denied any role in the incident.
A Case Symbolizing Fear and Eroded Rights
Ankita Bhandari's murder has transcended a single crime to become a potent symbol of the vulnerabilities faced by women, particularly in the informal job sector. The 19-year-old was working at the Vanantara resort in Rishikesh when she was allegedly killed by the resort's manager, Pulkit Arya, for refusing to provide "special services" to a VIP. Pulkit is the son of former BJP leader Vinod Arya, who was expelled from the party after the murder. Her body was recovered from a canal on September 24, 2022, six days after she went missing.
Indresh Maikhuri, a CPI(ML) Liberation Central Committee member, stated that public anger persists because justice feels incomplete. "The fact that Ankita was killed for refusing to provide ‘special services’ for a VIP is openly acknowledged," he said, noting that the judge who sentenced the three accused to life imprisonment also referenced this. Maikhuri emphasized that the probe's failure to pursue the VIP angle has created a "deep sense of injustice." He also highlighted how the incident has instilled fear, showing that despite workplace harassment laws, a young woman could be killed just 20 days after starting a job.
Allegations of a Compromised Investigation
Advocates and activists point to serious lapses in the initial investigation. Chandrakala of the Uttarakhand Mahila Manch revealed that critical evidence was destroyed. "Ankita’s room in the resort was bulldozed right after the incident. Pieces of evidence, including a bedsheet in her room, her phone and that of the main accused, were never recovered," she said. The Manch had demanded that Renu Bisht, the area MLA who ordered the demolition, be made an accused, but it did not happen.
Chandrakala also confirmed that pleas for a CBI probe were rejected by both the High Court and the Supreme Court. Meanwhile, Ankita's father, Virender Bhandari, remains steadfast. "We will protest until they accept our demand for a CBI probe," he asserted, adding that they are prepared to move a fresh application in court. He shared that Ankita's mother, Soni Devi, took ill after the new allegations but the family has a "rekindled hope" that the powerful involved will be proven guilty.
The political stakes are high. The Opposition sees parallels with the recent paper leak protests, where CM Dhami eventually recommended a CBI probe after initial dismissive comments. Congress leader Vaibhav Walia accused the government of working to "protect the accused" rather than deliver justice, stating that Ankita has become "the voice of every daughter of Uttarakhand." As January 4 approaches, the state government faces mounting pressure to address the lingering questions in a case that has come to define a struggle for justice against perceived power.
