Uttarakhand High Court Dismisses Plea Seeking CBI Probe In The Ankita Bhandari Murder Case

Thereafter, the plea seeking a CBI probe in the matter was moved by Chief Editor of Jago Uttarakhand Weekly Newspaper Ashutosh Negi claiming that the BJP MLA Renu Bisht ordered the demolition of the resort (where Ankita Bhandari used to work) so as to ensure the evidence of the case are destroyed.

#JustIn | The #UttarakhandHighCourt has dismissed a plea seeking a CBI probe into the #AnkitaBhandari Murder Case.

19 Y/O Ankita was allegedly killed by the son of a former BJP leader and his 2 associates as she had refused to offer "extra services" to a VIP guest in a resort. pic.twitter.com/wiRxLx6zfm

— Live Law (@LiveLawIndia) December 21, 2022

It may be noted that Ankita had been missing since 18-19 September, after which her search began and subsequently, three accused (including Pulkit) were arrested on September 23, and when questioned by the police, they allegedly confessed to having committed her murder.

On their pointing, her body was also recovered from the Chilla canal in Uttarakhand's Rishikesh on September 24. Soon after the incident, the demolition action was carried out on the resort in the presence of Renu Bisht, the BJP MLA from Yamkeshwar.

Accused Pulkit Arya's father Vinod Arya was expelled from the BJP soon after the murder came to light. 3 days ago, the SIT filed a chargesheet in the matter naming Pulkit Arya and two others as the prime accused. 

Case title - Ashutosh Negi v. State of Uttarakhand and others [WPCRL No. 1974 of 2022]

Citation: 2022 LiveLaw (Utt) 46