Today, On 30th May, In the Ankita Bhandari murder case, the Uttarakhand court convicted ex-BJP minister’s son Pulkit Arya and two others. The verdict brings justice for Ankita and highlights the court’s firm stand against crime and corruption.
A sessions court in Kotdwar, Uttarakhand, convicted Pulkit Arya, the owner of Vanantra Resort and son of expelled BJP leader Vinod Arya, along with his two employees, Saurabh Bhaskar and Ankit Gupta, for the murder of 19-year-old receptionist Ankita Bhandari in 2022.
The verdict was delivered by Additional District and Sessions Judge Reena Negi.
The Uttarakhand court completed the final hearing in the case on Monday and delivered its verdict today.
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The courtroom in Kotdwar experienced increased security during the announcement of the verdict, highlighting the case’s sensitivity and the public’s strong interest in it.
Before the Kotdwar court gives its verdict today in the Ankita Bhandari murder case, her mother Soni Devi shared her pain and asked the people of Uttarakhand to keep supporting the family. She also demanded the death penalty for the accused in this case, which had shocked the entire state in 2022.
Speaking to media, Devi said,
“May the criminals be sentenced to death…I appeal to the public of Uttarakhand to keep on supporting us and come to the Kotdwar court to boost our morale.”
The Additional District and Sessions Court in Kotdwar is set to announce its verdict today, and security at the court complex in Pauri Garhwal district has been heightened.
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With a significant police presence to maintain law and order, the area resembles a military zone. Pauri Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Lokeshwar Singh noted that police forces from the district and neighbouring areas are deployed, with a 100-meter perimeter around the court designated as a zero zone, allowing entry only for government employees and court attendees.
He stated,
“Police arrangements have been made, with forces deployed from the district and other districts. The 100-meter periphery of the court premises has been designated a zero zone, restricting entry to only government employees and individuals appearing in court. Any unknown person would be barred from the court entry,”
Ankita Bhandari, a resident of Pauri district, worked at the Vanantra Resort in Rishikesh. It is alleged that the resort owner, Pulkit Arya, along with his associates Saurabh Bhaskar and Ankit Gupta, murdered Ankita by pushing her into the barrage.
Her body was recovered from the Chilla canal in Rishikesh on September 24, six days after she was reported missing. An SIT, led by Deputy Inspector General of Police P Renuka Devi, initially investigated the case.
The first hearing commenced on January 30, 2023, in the ADJ Court in Kotdwar. Following the SIT’s investigation, a 500-page chargesheet was submitted by the prosecution regarding the murder. After charges were framed against the three accused Vanantra Resort owner Pulkit Arya, employee Saurabh Bhaskar, and Ankit Gupta the prosecution’s testimony began on March 28, 2023.
Over the course of approximately two years and eight months, 47 witnesses, including the investigator, were examined in court by the prosecution. The SIT had identified 97 witnesses in total, but only 47 key witnesses were presented in court.
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