More than three years after the brutal murder of 19-year-old receptionist Ankita Bhandari, the case has erupted back into the political spotlight of Uttarakhand, posing a significant challenge to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and galvanizing the opposition Congress.
What Are the Fresh Allegations?
The renewed controversy stems from videos released by Urmila Sanawar, who claims to be the second wife of former Haridwar BJP MLA Suresh Rathore. In her posts, Sanawar alleged that Ankita was killed for refusing to provide "extra services" to a leader referred to as "Gattu." In a subsequent video, she played an audio clip of a purported conversation with Rathore, in which he allegedly linked BJP national general secretary Dushyant Gautam to the case.
Rathore countered by calling a press conference, dismissing the audio as "AI-generated," and accusing Sanawar of defaming the BJP. Following this, two FIRs were registered in Haridwar and Dehradun against both Sanawar and Rathore under various sections, including provisions of the IT Act.
The Case Background and Political Fallout
Ankita Bhandari was murdered on September 18, 2022, barely 20 days after she started working at the Vanantara resort in Rishikesh. The resort's manager, Pulkit Arya—son of former BJP leader Vinod Arya—and two others were convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment in May 2025 by a Kotdwar court.
While a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probed the case, allegations of a "VIP angle" have persisted. The Supreme Court disposed of a plea for a CBI probe in March 2025, noting the trial was proceeding. The recent allegations, however, have fueled massive protests across the state, with the Congress and civil society groups demanding a CBI investigation.
The Congress has accused the BJP of a "cover-up" and "shielding" senior leaders, pointing to the demolition of parts of the resort after the body was found, allegedly at the behest of local BJP MLA Renu Bisht. Dushyant Gautam has vehemently denied the allegations, stating he would resign from public life if proven true.
Divided BJP and Opposition's Strategy
The fresh storm has exposed fissures within the state BJP. While leaders like ex-CM Trivendra Singh Rawat and former minister Vijaya Barthwal have called for a probe into the serious allegations, state party president Mahendra Bhatt has dismissed Sanawar's claims. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, after initial silence, stated that no one has been shielded and promised to meet Ankita's parents, while also suggesting a conspiracy to hinder his work.
Seizing the opportunity, the Congress has launched a statewide "Nyay Yatra" with candlelight vigils and protests, aiming to cover all 70 assembly segments. Senior Congress leader Suryakant Dhasmana expressed optimism about the party's prospects for the 2027 assembly elections, hinting at potential alliances within the INDIA bloc. Analysts suggest that if the Congress aligns with regional outfits like the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal, it could mount a formidable challenge to the BJP, especially in the hill districts.
The resurgence of the Ankita Bhandari case, coming on the heels of the UKSSSC paper leak protests, has intensified pressure on the Dhami government, which is also grappling with issues of migration and unemployment. As the political battle lines are redrawn, the demand for justice for Ankita has become a potent rallying point for the opposition, potentially reshaping Uttarakhand's political landscape ahead of the next state polls.
