UKD Democratic Leader and Journalist Ashutosh Negi to Appear Before CBI in Ankita Bhandari Case on October 27
New Delhi / Dehradun
Leader of Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (Democratic), senior journalist, advocate and social activist Ashutosh Negi will present himself before the CBI Special Branch investigating the Ankita Bhandari murder case on 27th October at 10:30 AM.
The appearance comes after the CBI issued him a notice a few days ago signed by Hanuman Prasad Meena, Additional Superintendent, CBI, directing him to appear at the CBI headquarters, CGO Complex, Lodhi Colony, New Delhi, with whatever evidence he possesses in the case and to cooperate with the investigation.
Mr. Negi has announced that he will be present before the investigating agency at the prescribed time to cooperate fully and wholeheartedly.
Ashutosh Negi has been at the forefront of the struggle for justice for Ankita Bhandari, demanding penalisation of the alleged VIP in the case. He had earlier filed a petition in the Uttarakhand High Court along with the aggrieved parents of Ankita, demanding a CBI probe to nail the actual culprit who allegedly demanded special service from Ankita and on her refusal, she was brutally murdered.
Ankita Bhandari, 19, a receptionist at Vanantra Resort in Rishikesh, went missing mysteriously on September 18, 2022. Her body was recovered from the Chilla Canal a few days later. Three accused – resort owner Pulkit Arya and his employees Saurabh Bhaskar and Ankit Gupta – have already been sentenced to life imprisonment by a lower court.
The demand for a CBI probe and punishment for the alleged VIP saw several demonstrations across Uttarakhand. The CBI probe was ordered nine months ago after Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami recommended the case to the premier investigating agency following public pressure and extensive media coverage.
The UKD leader himself had to undergo a jail sentence for a few days in an SC/ST case and is currently on bail.
His wife was also allegedly transferred arbitrarily to Pithoragarh, an order which was stayed by the Hon’ble Court.
The matter gained tremendous momentum after actress Urmila Sanawar, who claims to be the second wife of former Jwalapur MLA Suresh Rathore – a claim denied by Rathore – leaked an audio on social media allegedly revealing the name of the VIP. The charges have been vehemently denied by the person named.
Meanwhile, Urmila Sanawar, who had given consent for a narco-analysis and polygraph test before the Special CBI Court in Dehradun on October 23 and was to attend the next hearing on October 26, was arrested a day ago by Haridwar Police on the basis of an FIR filed by Deepika Rathore, daughter of former MLA Suresh Rathore, and sent to 14 days judicial custody.
The CBI has also issued notices to both Urmila Sanawar and Suresh Rathore regarding the viral audio clip and is verifying its authenticity.
Mr. Negi’s statement before the CBI on Monday is expected to be crucial, as he has been collecting documents and testimonies related to the alleged VIP angle since 2022.
