Lucknow, Read. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) investigation has intensified in the famous Ankita Bhandari murder case of Uttarakhand. On Sunday, a four-member CBI team reached the residence of Urmila Sanawar in Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh. A woman officer was also included in the team. Urmila Sanawar is said to be the wife of former BJP MLA Suresh Rathore.
The CBI team had come to interrogate him regarding the facts related to this high-profile case. This action has taken place at a time when questions are once again being raised at the political and social level regarding the role of the alleged VIP in the Ankita Bhandari murder case. A day before this, CBI had interrogated former MLA Suresh Rathore at Shivalik Guest House in Haridwar, Uttarakhand.
Urmila Sanawar has demanded questioning in the presence of media
Earlier this week, Urmila Sanawar attended a press conference with Ankita Bhandari's parents in New Delhi. Earlier, he had demanded through video message that CBI should interrogate him in the presence of media. He said that the investigation is not being conducted under the supervision of any sitting judge of the Supreme Court.
The matter came into discussion again early this year after some audio clips and videos related to Sanawar went viral. During Facebook Live, he had mentioned the role of an alleged VIP in the murder. After this, new questions arose in the case and opposition parties and various organizations intensified their demand for an impartial investigation.
CBI took over the investigation in February
Amidst the growing controversy in the Ankita Bhandari murder case and questions being raised on the issue of alleged VIP, the Uttarakhand government had recommended a CBI investigation. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami had officially announced this on January 9. After this, CBI took over the investigation of the case in February.
The Delhi-based Special Crime Branch of the agency had registered a case against an unknown VIP in this case. CBI's action in Saharanpur is being considered important amid the investigation into the claims that have surfaced regarding the role of the alleged VIP. However, the final conclusion regarding the involvement of any person can be drawn only on the basis of investigation and judicial process.
Ankita Bhandari went missing from the resort in 2022
19-year-old Ankita Bhandari worked as a receptionist at Vanantra Resort in Uttarakhand. He was assassinated on 18 September 2022. His body was recovered from Chilla Shakti Canal about a week later. After this incident came to light, there was widespread anger across Uttarakhand. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed to investigate the case had filed the chargesheet after detailed investigation.
The prosecution cited 97 witnesses, of whom 47 testified in court. Resort owner Pulkit Arya and co-accused Saurabh Bhaskar and Ankit Gupta were convicted by the court and sentenced to life imprisonment. In such a situation, now a major aspect of the CBI investigation is the investigation of the allegations related to the alleged VIP and the facts related to them.
Ankita's parents demanded to stop the appointment
Ankita Bhandari's parents had recently staged a protest at India Gate in New Delhi regarding this matter. They demanded a stay on the appointment of BJP leader Dushyant Gautam as the Governor of Sikkim. Congress and many organizations have also protested in Uttarakhand and Delhi regarding this demand. Later, Ankita's parents met CBI officials along with BJP MP from Garhwal Anil Baluni.
He demanded that the appointment be stopped until the investigation is completed and all necessary steps be taken to provide justice to his daughter. At present, all eyes are on the developments related to CBI's inquiry and investigation. The situation will become more clear only after the investigation agency's findings on the questions being raised regarding the role of the alleged VIP are revealed.
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