Justice for Ankita Bhandari: Uttarakhand Court Sentences Three to Rigorous Life Imprisonment in 2022 Murder Case
In a significant development in the high-profile 2022 Ankita Bhandari murder case, a court in Uttarakhand’s Pauri district on Friday found all three accused guilty and sentenced them to rigorous life imprisonment.
The verdict, delivered by Additional District and Sessions Judge Reena Negi, marks a crucial step in the long and painful journey for justice in a case that triggered widespread outrage and exposed systemic lapses in law enforcement.
The Crime That Shocked the Nation
Ankita Bhandari, a 19-year-old aspiring hotel management student from a modest background in Pauri, had taken up a job as a receptionist at the Vanantra Resort in Rishikesh in August 2022.
The resort was owned by Pulkit Arya, the son of expelled BJP leader Vinod Arya, a politically connected figure who had previously held the rank of Minister of State in Uttarakhand.
On the night of September 18, 2022, Ankita was brutally murdered by Pulkit and his two accomplices — Saurabh Bhaskar and Ankit Gupta — after she allegedly resisted their persistent pressure to provide “special services” to VIP guests.
According to the prosecution, when Ankita refused to comply with the accused’s demands, they feared she might reveal their misconduct. This led to a fatal decision: she was taken out of the resort, killed, and her body was dumped into the Chilla canal.
Her body was recovered on September 24, after the accused confessed to the crime during police interrogation.
The Charges and Conviction
On Friday, the court found Pulkit Arya guilty under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code, including:
- Section 302 (murder),
- Section 201 (causing disappearance of evidence),
- Section 354A (sexual harassment and outraging the modesty of a woman),
- and provisions of the Immoral Trafficking (Prevention) Act.
His associates, Bhaskar and Gupta, were also convicted under IPC sections for murder, concealment of evidence, and offences under the Immoral Trafficking Act.
Ankita’s Life and Dreams Cut Short
Ankita came from a humble family struggling to make ends meet. Her father, Birendra Bhandari, worked as a security guard. Ankita had been pursuing hotel management, but financial hardship following the COVID-19 pandemic forced her to discontinue her studies.
When a friend, Pushp (who later became a key witness), informed her about a job opening at the resort, she took the opportunity.
Just a month into the job, she confided in Pushp that she was being coerced into providing sexual services for guests in exchange for money — an offer she firmly refused.
On the night of her murder, her last phone conversation with Pushp, around 8:32 PM, revealed she was frightened and that Pulkit was with her.
Delayed Justice, Administrative Failures
The initial response to Ankita’s disappearance exposed serious flaws in the policing system. Instead of reporting to the regular police, the resort staff notified the local Patwari, Vaibhav Pratap, as the area fell under the jurisdiction of the revenue police system.
Shockingly, Pratap neither registered a case nor informed higher authorities. He proceeded to take leave shortly thereafter. It wasn’t until September 22 — four days after the murder — that the case was handed over to the regular police.
Pratap was later suspended and arrested by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) for negligence and suspected collusion with the accused.
The incident sparked a larger debate on the effectiveness of the revenue policing system, prompting Uttarakhand Assembly Speaker Ritu Khanduri to formally request the Chief Minister to replace revenue police with regular police forces in sensitive areas.
Aftermath and Political Fallout
As the case drew national attention, Pulkit Arya and his accomplices were arrested. The public outcry led to swift political consequences — Vinod Arya and his elder son were expelled from the BJP.
Simultaneously, the district administration bulldozed parts of the Vanantra Resort, an act that raised eyebrows and led to accusations of destroying critical evidence.
In December 2022, the SIT filed a detailed 500-page chargesheet against the accused. Though there was a public demand for a CBI probe, the Uttarakhand High Court denied the petition, citing satisfaction with the SIT’s investigation.
The Family’s Fight for Justice Continues
Following the court’s verdict, Ankita’s parents, while acknowledging the guilty verdict, reiterated their demand for the death penalty. Her mother, Soni Devi, visibly emotional, appealed to the public, especially women, to stand by the family in their ongoing fight.
“I beg that the killers of my daughter be hanged… this isn’t just about Ankita — it’s about the safety of every daughter in the country,” she said.
Her father echoed the sentiment, emphasizing that true justice would only be achieved when the accused are sentenced to death. “My daughter was brutally murdered. We will keep protesting until they are hanged,” he said.
He also pointed out that Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami had promised in 2023 that a nursing college would be established in Ankita’s name to honor her memory. “It’s been over a year, and nothing has been done yet,” he lamented.
This case remains a stark reminder of the dangers faced by young women in the hospitality sector and the need for robust legal and administrative reforms. While Friday’s verdict offers some solace to the grieving family, their quest for complete justice — including stronger systemic protections — is far from over.
