Ankita Bhandari Case: Woman Who Named BJP Leaders Surfaces
In a social media post, Sanawar said she was ready to face a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe and would submit complete evidence to secure justice for Ankita Bhandari, 19, who was murdered at a resort in Rishikesh in 2023.
Dehradun: Even as Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami told the media on Tuesday that Urmila Sanawar, who had released audio and video clips naming BJP leaders in connection with the Ankita Bhandari murder case, was missing, Sanawar announced her availability in Dehradun the same evening.
In a social media post, Sanawar said she was ready to face a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe and would submit complete evidence to secure justice for Ankita Bhandari, 19, who was murdered at a resort in Rishikesh in 2023.
Recently, Sanawar released an audio and a video clip allegedly naming BJP leaders in connection with the case. The clips went viral, triggering widespread public protests and renewed demands for disclosure of the alleged “VIP” mentioned in the case and for a CBI inquiry.
On December 25, three FIRs were registered against Sanawar in Haridwar and Dehradun. The Chief Minister said the controversial clips had been sent for forensic examination. An SIT led by the SP (City), Haridwar, was also constituted to probe the matter. Following the registration of FIRs, Sanawar went underground for several days while police searched for her. During this period, she also wrote to the SSP, Dehradun, claiming a threat to her life.
After remaining untraceable for nearly 10 days, Sanawar surfaced through a social media post stating that she had returned to Dehradun and was prepared to cooperate fully with the SIT. She said the evidence in her possession should not be tampered with.
It is significant that Sanawar, who claims to be the wife of former BJP MLA Suresh Rathore, returned to Dehradun accompanied by right-wing leader Swami Darshan Bharti, head of the Uttarakhand Raksha Abhiyan. Bharti said Sanawar had expressed fear for her life and returned only after being assured of adequate security by the government and police.
Later in the evening, Sanawar approached the SIT for recording her statement. Uttarakhand police spokesperson S.K. Meena said all evidence available with Sanawar would be taken into custody by the SIT as part of the investigation.
