In a significant development in the ongoing investigation surrounding the 2022 Rishikesh resort murder case, expelled former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator Suresh Rathore appeared before a Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Haridwar police on Friday. Rathore was subjected to nearly six hours of intense questioning regarding his alleged involvement in the circulation of controversial audio clips connected to the high-profile case.
Six-Hour SIT Grilling and Court Protection
The questioning session, which lasted for approximately six hours, was fully recorded by the authorities. Rathore's appearance before the SIT came just a day after he surfaced in Haridwar on Thursday. Prior to this, he had been untraceable for several days. His cooperation with the probe follows a crucial order from the Uttarakhand High Court, which on Wednesday stayed his arrest in all four cases registered against him concerning the circulation of the audio clips.
Senior Superintendent of Police (City) Abhay Singh confirmed the details of the interrogation. "We questioned him about his claims in the viral audio and other details related to the criminal cases registered against him. The SIT also sought electronic evidence from him," Singh stated. The focus of the questioning reportedly centered on the claims made within the clips, particularly a reference to a "VIP" that Rathore allegedly mentioned.
The VIP Claim and the Sanawar Connection
The controversy erupted after actor Urmila Sanawar, who claims to be Rathore's second wife, released a series of audio clips. In these recordings, the former MLA is purportedly heard discussing the 2022 Rishikesh resort murder and referring to a "VIP" involved in the case. Rathore allegedly identified this VIP as BJP national general secretary and Uttarakhand in-charge, Dushyant Gautam.
Urmila Sanawar is herself facing legal heat, with four cases registered against her. She is a co-accused with Rathore in two of these cases, while the remaining two were filed by Rathore and his daughter, accusing her of blackmail. Sanawar was questioned by Dehradun police on Wednesday, where she submitted an audio clip of an alleged conversation with Rathore. Police have stated this clip will be sent to a forensic science laboratory for scientific examination and authentication. She also appeared before the Haridwar SIT on Thursday.
Claims, Counter-Claims, and Political Fallout
Maintaining his innocence, Suresh Rathore has alleged that Urmila Sanawar is part of a conspiracy to defame him and has accused her of blackmailing him from the very beginning. He has pledged full cooperation with the investigative process. Police officials have indicated that this matter is being examined as part of a broader probe into the entire episode.
The political ramifications for Rathore have already been severe. He was expelled from the BJP for a period of six years in June 2025 following the revelation of his "second marriage" to Sanawar, despite being legally wed to his first wife. The nature of his relationship with Sanawar has itself been a subject of confusion. After initially introducing her as his second wife, Rathore later claimed that widely circulated images appearing to show their wedding were actually scenes from a film project titled ‘Bhabhi Ji Vidhayak Hai’, which he said he was producing.
As the SIT continues its investigation, the focus remains on authenticating the audio evidence and unraveling the precise nature of the claims made about the Rishikesh murder case. The involvement of high-profile names and the political undertones have ensured that this case remains firmly in the public eye.
