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Ankita Bhandari Murder Case: 3 Convicted, Sentenced to Life for Killing 19-Year-Old

May 30, 2025, 5:25 pm

Nearly three years after the gruesome killing of 19-year-old Ankita Bhandari, a Pauri district court in Uttarakhand sentenced the three accused to life imprisonment on Friday. The court, led by Judge Reena Negi, held Pulkit Arya, Saurabh Bhaskar, and Ankit Gupta guilty of murder and other criminal charges.

Young Receptionist Killed at Resort in 2022

Ankita, who hailed from Uttarakhand’s Pauri district, was a receptionist at Rishikesh’s Yamkeshwar-based Vanantra Resort. She was allegedly killed by the resort owner Pulkit Arya and his friends Bhaskar and Gupta on September 18, 2022. The three men allegedly pushed her into the Chilla canal in Rishikesh after an altercation, according to investigators. Her remains were recovered six days later on September 24.

The late filing of her disappearance sparked massive demonstrations throughout Uttarakhand. In an angry public outcry, residents attacked the Vanantra Resort and set it ablaze, calling for quick justice for the young woman.

Disturbing Allegations of Exploitation

The case was investigated by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Deputy Inspector General of Police P Renuka Devi. While investigating, four former employees reported serious allegations. They reported that Pulkit Arya and Ankit Gupta used to bring women to the resort on a regular basis and abused and harassed female workers.

Indignation increased further when it was disclosed that Pulkit Arya is the son of ex-BJP leader Vinod Arya, who was subsequently suspended from the party after the incident.

Court Trial and Judgment

The trial started on January 30, 2023, at the Additional District and Sessions Judge (ADJ) Court, Kotdwar. The SIT filed a 500-page chargesheet, and the prosecution started producing evidence and witnesses on March 28, 2023.

During two years and eight months, the court cross-examined 47 out of 97 SIT-listed witnesses. The evidence proved that Pulkit Arya and Ankita were involved in an altercation, leading to her being pushed into the canal by the accused by force.

The court found Arya, Bhaskar, and Gupta guilty under IPC Sections 302 (murder), 201 (causing disappearance of evidence), 120B (criminal conspiracy), 354A (sexual harassment), and corresponding sections of the Immoral Traffic Prevention Act. The three were sentenced to life in jail.

Family Demands Harsher Punishment

Ankita’s mother, Soni Devi, was not happy with the punishment and stated that the death penalty would have been more suitable. In an interview with ANI, she stated, “I appeal to the public of Uttarakhand to keep on supporting us and come to the Kotdwar court to boost our morale.”

The sentencing is a highlight of a case that drew national attention and fueled controversies surrounding women’s security and political power in criminal trials.

Ankita Bhandari Murder Case: Resort Owner and Two Staffers Found Guilty

May 30, 2025, 1:14 pm

A lower court in Uttarakhand on Friday found Pulkit Arya and two of his staff members guilty in the high-profile 2022 murder of 19-year-old receptionist Ankita Bhandari. The Additional District and Sessions Judge Reena Negi in Kotdwar delivered the verdict after final arguments on May 19 between the defence and the prosecution.

Vanantara Resort owner Pulkit Arya, son of ousted BJP leader Vinod Arya, has been convicted, along with resort employees Saurabh Bhaskar and Ankit Gupta. The court found all three accused guilty of murdering Ankita Bhandari on the evening of September 18, 2022.

Dispute Led to Murder of Ankita Bhandari, Says Prosecution

The prosecution claimed that Ankita and Pulkit Arya fought, following which Arya and his two staff members threw her into the canal. Her body was found six days later, on September 24, at the Chilla canal in Rishikesh. All three accused were arrested the moment her body was recovered and taken to jail.

“Pulkit Arya and his two staff members shoved her into a canal,” said the prosecution at the trial.

The first hearing of the case was held on January 30, 2023. After a long investigation conducted by the Special Investigation Team (SIT), a 500-page chargesheet was filed in the court.

Court Depended on 47 Witnesses During the Trial

Following the filing of charges, the prosecution opened the case on March 28, 2023. During the trial, 47 witnesses, including the primary investigator, testified in court, establishing a robust case against the three defendants.

This case received national attention because of its sensitivity and the political status of the main accused. The conviction has been viewed as a major leap toward justice for Ankita Bhandari. It also sends a message on accountability, irrespective of influence or status.

The sentencing of the convicts is likely to follow shortly in the same court.

Ankita Bhandari murder case: News portal operator for ‘provocative’ statements apprehended by Police

March 6, 2024, 1:03 pm

Ashutosh Negi, the operator of a news portal, has been apprehended by Uttarakhand Police for attempting to instill distrust in the public towards the government and the police, particularly regarding the Ankita Bhandari murder case.

Uttarakhand Director General of Police, Abhinav Kumar, disclosed that Negi, arrested on March 5, was involved in creating mistrust by making provocative statements despite the ongoing trial.

Negi already faces charges under the SC/ST Act, and a new case has been registered against him for a scuffle with the police during his arrest.

DGP Kumar assured the government’s complete freedom for an impartial investigation, emphasizing the commitment to justice for Ankita Bhandari.

He dismissed allegations of government pressure during the investigation and praised the unbiased efforts of the State Police.

Ankita Bhandari’s body was recovered from the Chilla canal in Rishikesh, and a Special Investigation Team led by Deputy Inspector General of Police P Renuka Devi is handling the case.

Pulkit Arya, the son of expelled BJP leader Vinod Arya, was arrested for allegedly pushing Ankita into the canal, and two more individuals, Ankit Gupta and Saurabh Bhaskar, were also arrested in connection with the case.

Ankita Bhandari’s case: One year passed, parents still seeking Justice

September 18, 2023, 8:55 pm

Ankita Bhandari, a receptionist at Vanantra Resort in Ganga-Bhogpur, Pauri District, Uttarakhand, was murdered on September 18, 2022, by Pulkit Arya, the son of BJP leader Vinod Arya and owner of the resort. Arya was assisted by Saurabh Bhaskar and Ankit Gupta.

What Exactly Happened?

On September 18, Ankita Bhandari, a receptionist at Vanantra Resort in Uttarakhand, went missing. Her parents tried to call her and locate her in her room, but were unable to find her. Ankita had previously told her friend Pushap Deep that she was being pressured to provide “extra service” to a VIP for Rs. 10000. Deep became suspicious when she did not respond to his calls.

Ankita’s father registered a missing complaint in the Revenue police area, but no action was taken for two days. The case was then transferred to the Laxman Jhula police, who arrested the three accused: Pulkit Arya (the key accused), the hotel’s manager Ankit Gupta, and Pulkit’s friend Saurabh Bhaskar.

During interrogation, the three confessed to their crime. They said that after Pulkit had a heated conversation with Ankita, they all went to a nearby location to resolve the issue. On the way, they had an altercation with Ankita and pushed her into the Chilla canal. They then returned to the hotel and told a different story to their staff.

Ankita’s dead body was recovered by the State Disaster Response Force of the Uttarakhand police on September 24, 2022. Her preliminary autopsy revealed that she had sustained blunt force trauma before her death. The cause of death was drowning.

Aftermath

The resort where Ankita Bhandari was murdered was bulldozed and torched by unknown persons on the same night, causing significant damage. The government initially stated that this was swift justice, but the District Magistrate later denied that the government was involved.

Ankita’s family was unhappy with the postmortem report and said that they would not perform her last rites until the final autopsy report was released to the public. They also accused the administration of destroying evidence by bulldozing the resort.

After several appeals from the local administration and the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, Pushkar Singh Dhami, Ankita’s family agreed to perform her last rites. Dhami called the incident “unfortunate” and assured the family that the trial would be held in a fast-track court and that the accused would receive the strictest possible punishment.

Ankita’s last rites were performed by her family members at the NIT Ghat of Srinagar on September 25, 2022. A large number of people attended the funeral, including many prominent politicians from the state, such as Tirath Singh Rawat, a sitting Member of Parliament and former Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, and Rajendra Bhandari, Congress MLA from Badrinath.

The police established a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the case. However, groups of locals on social media and the victim’s father petitioned the High Court to have the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) investigate the case. The police filed a 500-page chargesheet against the three accused in December 2022. In May 2023, Ankita’s parents and some social workers claimed that Ankita was raped by Saurabh Bhaskar before her murder.

The case is still pending before the Court and Ankita’s parents are still seeking Justice for the deceased daughter.

3 accused in Ankita Bhandari murder case to undergo narco, polygraph tests on 5 January

January 3, 2023, 5:47 pm

In the Ankita Bhandari murder case, the First Class Judicial Magistrate Court Kotdwar fixed the narco and polygraph test dates of the three accused for 5 January.

After hearing the arguments of both parties The Court of Judicial Magistrate First Class, Kotdwar fixed the date of narco and polygraph tests.

Earlier on 24 September Ankita’s body was found in the Chilla canal in Rishikesh at least six days before the officials found her body.

Meanwhile, at a resort run by Pulkit Arya who has expelled BJP’s son, Anikta used to work as a receptionist.

Moreover, Arya was arrested for pushing Ankita into the canal following an altercation, and also arrested Ankit Gupta and Saurabh Bhaskar.

However, Uttarakhand Police on 4 December said that the investigation into the Ankita Bhandari murder case is almost complete. The last thing which was left was narco tests of the accused. After which Uttarakhand Police sought permission from the Kotdwar court.

Furthermore, in the Nainital High Court in November Ankita’s mother, Sona Devi and father Virender Singh Bhandari filed a petition. The petition was filed to seek inquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the case.

Ankita Bhandari murder case: Harish Rawat stages dharna; demands CBI inquiry

December 27, 2022, 3:27 pm

Senior Congress leader and former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat stage a dharna demanding a CBI inquiry into Ankita Bhandari’s murder case.

Meanwhile, former CM Rawat has sat on a 24-hour dharna with several congress supporters and leaders at Gandhi Park in Dehradun.

In the Ankita murder case, the public wants answers to the questions said, CM Rawat. “The public wants to know on whose orders a bulldozer was fired at the resort, why the resort was not sealed, how the fire broke out twice despite the presence of the police in the resort,” Rawat said.

Earlier on 24 September Ankita’s body was recovered from the Chilla canal in Rishikesh. Ankita used to work as a receptionist at a resort run by Pulkit Arya, the son of expelled BJP leader Vinod Arya.

Moreover, for the six days missing report was filed and later police officials found her dead body. In connection with the Ankita Bhandari murder case, Pulkit Arya was arrested for allegedly pushing her into the canal.

However, on 4 December the investigation into the Ankita Bhandari case was completed by the Uttarakhand Police just Narco tests of the accused remained. After which Uttarakhand Police sought permission from the Kotdwar court.

Uttarakhand Police file charge sheet in Ankita Bhandari murder case

December 17, 2022, 3:17 pm

In the Ankita Bhandari murder case, Uttarkhand Police filed a charge sheet against the three persons accused on Saturday. The charge sheet has been filed and submitted before the Kotdwar Judicial Court.

In a joint press conference with the probe in-charge of the Special Investigation Team P Renuka Devi, Additional Director General (ADG) V Murugesan of Uttarakhand Police said, “We are going to file a 500-page chargesheet within 90 days in this case. Around 100 people have been examined in the matter.”

Under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Unethical Business Prevention Act (IBPA) the case has been filed against the accused.

“The chargesheet is being sent to the Hon’ble Court against the three accused under IPC section 302, 201, 120B, 354A, and 5(1)V of the Unethical Business Prevention Act. The Narco test and other points are being discussed in the said incident,” Murugesan said.

Meanwhile, for the six days missing report was filed and later police officials found her dead body. In connection with the Ankita Bhandari murder case, Pulkit Arya was arrested for allegedly pushing her into the canal.

Later in case two more people Ankit Gupta and Saurabh Bhaskar were also arrested. After the incident, the BJP government led by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami promptly expelled Vinod Arya.

Moreover, on 4 December the investigation into the Ankita Bhandari case was completed by the Uttarakhand Police just Narco tests of the accused remained. After which Uttarakhand Police sought permission from the Kotdwar court.

“The main accused Pulkit Arya and the second accused Saurabh have given consent for the narco and polygraph tests, however, the third accused Ankit has asked for 10 days time. His application will be heard in the court of Judicial Magistrate Kotdwar on December 22,” Deputy Inspector General (DIG) P Renuka Devi said.

However, in the Nainital High Court in November Ankita’s mother, Sona Devi and father Virender Singh Bhandari filed a petition. The petition was filed to seek inquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the case.

Furthermore, against the three accused the Pushkar Singh Dhami government has invoked the Gangster Act.

SIT to file charge sheet in Ankita Bhandari murder case

December 15, 2022, 1:53 pm

A charge sheet will be filed by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) against the three accused this week in the Ankita Bhandari murder case.

Deputy Inspector General (DIG) P Renuka, the SIT in charge said, “SIT has almost completed the probe. We’ll file the chargesheet this week. We’ve applied for the NARCO test of the 3 accused, we’ll do it if the court permits.”

Later in case two more people Ankit Gupta and Saurabh Bhaskar were also arrested. After the incident, the BJP government led by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami promptly expelled Vinod Arya.

Addressing the press conference Chief Spokesperson of the Uttarakhand Police headquarters Additional Director General (ADG) V Murgeshan said, “An application will be filed in the court for the narco test of Ankita’s killers, including the main accused Pulkit Arya. Things will be clearer after the narco test is done. Our investigation is almost complete.”

Moreover, in the Nainital High Court in November Ankita’s mother, Sona Devi and father Virender Singh Bhandari filed a petition. The petition was filed to seek inquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the case.

Furthermore, against the three accused the Pushkar Singh Dhami government has invoked the Gangster Act.

Ankita Bhandari murder accused to undergo Narco test

December 4, 2022, 3:59 pm

Arya, the expelled BJP leader’s son, was found in Rishikesh’s Chilla canal.

The accused in the Ankita Bhandari murder case, which shook the nation, will undergo narco test, said the Uttrakhand police on Sunday. The investigation in the case which involves an expelled BJP leader’s son is almost complete, only the narco test of the accused is remaining.
“An application will be filed in the court for the narco test of Ankita’s killers, including the main accused Pulkit Arya. “Things will be clearer after the narco test is done. Our investigation is almost complete,” Chief Spokesperson of the Uttarakhand Police headquarters Additional Director General (ADG) V Murgeshan said addressing a press conference.
On September 24, the death of 19-year-old Ankita, a receptionist at a resort managed by Pulkit Arya, the expelled BJP leader’s son, was found in Rishikesh’s Chilla canal.
Before the authorities discovered her lifeless body, she had been reported missing for at least six days.
For his apparent involvement in the matter, the son of the ousted BJP politician was detained. Following criticism from the opposition parties over the incident, Vinod Arya was swiftly dismissed from the BJP government under Pushkar Singh Dhami, the chief minister.
Following an altercation, Pulkit Arya was detained in connection with the case for allegedly pushing the woman into a canal. Ankit Gupta and Saurabh Bhaskar, two additional suspects, were also taken into custody.
On November 29, the Uttarakhand Police announced that its Special Investigation Team (SIT) was looking into the murder of Ankita Bhandari and had thought about subjecting all three suspects to a narco-analysis test.
Sona Devi and Virender Singh Bhandari, Ankita’s mother and father, had petitioned the Nainital High Court in November to have the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) look into the case.
The Gangster Act was used against the three defendants in the case, including main defendant Pulkit Arya, amid requests from the victim’s family that the investigation be turned over to the CBI.

Ankita Bhandari Case: RSS leader makes objectionable comments, calls her ‘raw-milk’; FIR registered

September 29, 2022, 1:46 pm

Uttrakhand Police on Thursday filed an FIR on Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leader Vpin Karnwal for inappropriate comments on the 19-year-old Ankita Bhandari.

He termed her as ‘raw milk’ before ‘hungry male cats ‘and blamed her father for her death.

RSS leader posted on Facebook, which is now deleted, saying, “I did not go for any candle march or market closure. The father and brother who eat the earnings of a 19-year-old girl, whose daughter and sister works at a resort where there is open debauchery and the girl whose Jammu-based friend comes to inform the family about the scandal is the biggest culprit who let raw milk before the hungry cats.”

His post referred to Ankita as ‘raw milk’ and he blamed her father for her death, saying “biggest culprit is her father who put raw milk before the hungry male cats”.

The police registered a case against Karnwal, on the complaint of one social worker Vijaypal Rawat, under section 153A (Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony), 505 (Statements conducing to public mischief), 509 (Word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman), and 66 (Description of imprisonment for non-payment of fine) of the Indian Penal Code.

19-year-old Ankita was missing for at least six days before the Uttarakhand administration recovered her body from the Chilla canal in Rishikesh on September 24.

Pulkit Arya, son of expelled BJP leader Vinod Arya, was arrested in the case for allegedly pushing her into the canal following an altercation. Besides Pulkit Arya, two more people were arrested in the case.

CM Dhami announces Rs 25 lakh to Ankita’s family

September 28, 2022, 1:03 pm

Pushkar Singh Dhami, the chief minister of Uttarakhand, has ordered the authorities to give the family of deceased Ankita Bhandari, who was reportedly murdered by the son of a now-expelled BJP leader, financial aid in the amount of Rs. 25 lakh.

The chief minister’s office said that the government has requested the court to fast-track the hearing to ensure speedy justice for the victim’s family.

“The family of the late Ankita Bhandari has been given financial help in the amount of Rs. 25 lakhs, on instructions from Chief Minister. In order for the victim’s family to receive prompt justice, he said that a request had been filed to the Hon’ble Court for a hearing in the fast track court,” Dhami tweeted in Hindi.

Dhami assured the father of Ankita Bhandari that justice will be served in the matter when they spoke on Tuesday.

“I had spoken to chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami over the phone. He has given full assurance that justice will be served in my daughter’s case,” said Virendra Bhandari, Ankita’s father.

He further stressed on capital punishment for the culprits and said, “We demanded that the culprits be given capital punishment. CM Dhami has also talked about giving full cooperation from the police and administration in the whole matter,” he added.

The SIT probing the murder case recovered a grey Activa and a black Pulsar motorcycle, which were apparently used in the crime. The vehicles are understood to have been used by the accused for taking Ankita to the Chilla canal into which she was pushed by them, an official release said.

The development comes when an overnight demolition of portions of the resort owned by Pulkit Arya, the primary suspect and the son of expelled BJP leader Vinod Arya, has drawn criticism for allegedly destroying evidence in the murder case.

It seems to me that the proper procedure of a demolition of the so-called illegal resort was not followed in this case. Usually, a show-cause notice is issued before any such exercise is undertaken,” Former Uttarakhand DGP Aloke B Lal told PTI.

“However, in this case, bulldozers razed portions of the resort in the dead of night without any prior notice. The sudden action must have destroyed crucial evidence in the case,” he added.

Ankita Bhandari case: Family refused to perform last rites untill autopsy reports received

September 25, 2022, 10:27 am

In a significant development in the murder case, Ankita Bhandari’s family refused to carry out the last rites as they requested a post-mortem report.

The administration, on the other hand, tried to convince Ankita’s family. “We won’t conduct her last rites until her post-mortem report is given. We saw in her provisional report that she was beaten up and was thrown in a river. But we’re awaiting the final report,” said Ajay Singh Bhandari, brother of Ankita Bhandari.

The SIT stated on Sunday that her Whatsapp chats were also under investigation.

According to sources, a WhatsApp conversation has been prominent in the probe. According to police sources, Ankita is complaining to her buddy in this discussion that the resort’s owner is forcing her to offer the visitors “additional service.” Following the murder of the receptionist, there is a great deal of indignation among the populace.

Ankita’s WhatsApp conversations that have surfaced are being investigated, according to DIG PR Devi, the SIT investigator probing the Ankita Bhandari murder case.

According to a viral chat, it is stated that the guest would receive “additional service” for Rs 10,000. In the WhatsApp message, talk of providing “additional service” in the name of offering spa services at the Vanatara Resort can be seen.

Ankita Bhandari, according to a resort staffer, allegedly asked him to remove her bags from the resort on September 17 after calling him sobbing. Additionally, he acknowledged seeing Ankita with three other people at roughly 3 PM; however, only the other three returned, leaving Ankita behind.

Additionally, he attested that on September 18, at 8 a.m., the owner’s brother, Ankit Arya, arrived and discussed making supper for four people while announcing that he would dine in Ankita’s room. The employee responded by saying that the service men could prepare the meal. However, the resort’s assistant said that Ankit was trying to deceive the employees because Ankita had not yet arrived.

The Vanatara resort in Rishikesh, which is owned by Pulkit Arya, a son of expelled BJP politician Vinod Arya and a suspect in the slaying of Ankita Bhandari, was set on fire by enraged locals earlier on Saturday.

In protest of the horrific murder, locals thronged the Pauri bus station and the streets of neighbouring Uttarakhand districts. In addition, the Pauri District Magistrate’s office was gheraoed by protesters.

Ankita Bhandari, 19, was discovered dead on Saturday in Rishikesh’s Chilla canal. A few days prior, she had been reported missing. The chief minister of Uttarakhand, Pushkar Singh Dhami, gave the directive to form a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to examine the situation.

“The body of our daughter Ankita was recovered this morning. This heartbreaking incident deeply pains my heart,” Dhami tweeted.
Three people, including Pulkit Arya, were arrested on Friday after they confessed to having pushed Ankita into the canal after an altercation.