In a swift escalation of the probe into the Ankita Bhandari murder case, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) initiated fresh questioning on Saturday, interrogating former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Suresh Rathore in Haridwar, Uttarakhand.
The move comes less than 24 hours after the victim’s parents met with senior CBI officials to demand deeper scrutiny of political connections and key individuals associated with the case.
Action Follows High-Level Meeting with Parents
A dedicated CBI team summoned Suresh Rathore to a local guest house in Haridwar for extensive questioning. The sudden development directly follows a high-profile meeting on Friday between Ankita Bhandari’s parents and top CBI officers.
During the meeting, the grieving parents submitted formal requests urging the investigating agency to conduct narco-analysis tests on former legislator Suresh Rathore as well as actor Urmila Sanawar, alleging that further interrogation could reveal crucial unexamined links in the case.
Background of the Case
Ankita Bhandari, a 19-year-old receptionist at a resort near Rishikesh, was murdered in September 2022 after resisting pressure to provide “special services” to VIP guests.
- The primary accused include Pulkit Arya, son of a former BJP leader, who owned the resort where Bhandari worked.
- The ongoing investigation has sparked widespread public outrage and candle-march protests led by political and civic groups across the region demanding comprehensive justice and full transparency regarding high-profile figures involved.
With the CBI actively questioning political figures, investigators are focusing on verifying new allegations and determining whether additional suspects should undergo scientific testing.