Ankita Bhandari Case: Murder, Misconduct And Delayed Justice

On Friday, a court in Uttarakhand convicted Pulkit Arya, the owner of a remote resort, and two of his employees for the murder of 19-year-old receptionist Ankita Bhandari. What began as a missing person report in September 2022 escalated into a high-profile case that exposed political connections, institutional lapses, and deep-rooted issues of exploitation.

Filed on Sept. 18 2022, the case took a harrowing turn within days when Ankita Bhandari’s body was recovered from a canal near Rishikesh. Three men, including the owner of the resort, were arrested.

The unfolding events gripped the nation, triggered political fallout, and unearthed disturbing revelations about the accused and their alleged criminal network.

Ankita Bhandari, a resident of Dobh-Srikot village in Pauri Garhwal district, had joined Vanantra Resort in Yamkeshwar as a receptionist in August 2022. Less than a month into her employment, she was dead reported NDTV.

According to police reports, on the night of Sept. 18, an altercation broke out between Ankita and her employer, Pulkit Arya—son of a senior BJP leader—and two other staff members, Saurabh Bhaskar and Ankit Gupta.

Following the confrontation, Ankita was allegedly forced into a vehicle and later pushed into the fast-moving Cheela canal, a man-made water channel notorious for its strong currents, as per NDTV report.

Arya and his aides returned to the resort—approximately 10 km from Rishikesh—where Arya filed a missing person report himself.

The initial investigation into Ankita’s disappearance was marred by jurisdictional confusion, reported NDTV. The resort lies in a semi-rural area outside the remit of the regular police, leaving initial responsibility to a patwari (a land revenue official with limited investigative powers).

This procedural gap delayed crucial early action, as per NDTV reports. It wasn’t until three days later—under mounting public pressure and suspicion raised by Ankita’s friends and family—that the case was transferred to the regular police. By then, public outrage was beginning to build.

Uttarakhand’s Director General of Police, Ashok Kumar, later admitted that the delay had cost the investigation valuable time, reported NDTV. “The resort, Vanantra, falls outside regular police jurisdiction. In such areas, patwaris register FIRs. The patwari did file a missing person complaint—as submitted by the resort owner himself,” he explained.

Ankita’s friend Pushp was the first to realise something was amiss. She had phoned him on the night of Sept. 18, expressing concern about being pressured by resort management to provide what were euphemistically called “special services” to guests—an allegation that later formed the motive behind the crime.

After 8:30 p.m., Ankita’s phone went unreachable. Pushp tried contacting Pulkit Arya, who claimed she had retired to her room. By the next morning, Arya’s phone had also been switched off, reported NDTV. Other staff gave conflicting accounts—one claimed she was at the gym, another said he hadn’t seen her.

Sensing grave danger, Pushp and Ankita’s family urged the police to treat the matter as a potential crime. Once formal police action began, the case progressed rapidly, as per reports.

On Sept. 24—six days after her disappearance—Ankita’s body was recovered from the Cheela canal. A post-mortem at AIIMS Rishikesh confirmed drowning as the cause of death, but also noted multiple injuries consistent with blunt force trauma. Viscera samples tested negative for sexual assault, reported NDTV.

The discovery ignited public fury. Locals vandalised the police vehicle transporting the accused, shattering windows and attempting to drag them out. In Bhogpur, villagers ransacked the resort, accusing authorities of shielding the accused due to Arya’s political lineage. That night, officials demolished the resort, citing illegal construction.

Pulkit Arya’s father, Vinod Arya, a senior BJP figure in Uttarakhand, was expelled from the party in the wake of the scandal. Despite the gravity of the allegations, he publicly defended his son, calling him a “simple boy” incapable of such a crime, as per NDTV.

“I want justice for both Pulkit and Ankita,” he said—remarks that drew harsh criticism.

Subsequently, Vinod Arya was named in another case filed by a former driver, alleging physical assault and attempted sodomy.

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami announced that the case would be fast-tracked. A Special Investigation Team, headed by senior IPS officer Renuka Devi, was appointed, and the government announced a compensation of Rs 25 lakh for Ankita’s family.

Ankita’s mother later claimed that the family had been deceived and prevented from attending her funeral, as per NDTV report. In a video released weeks later, she alleged that she was taken to hospital under false pretences.

“They said I would be able to see my daughter, but instead took me to a hospital and gave me IV fluids without my consent,” she said. “I was not unwell. They tricked me into staying away. I asked to see her body, but they refused. They betrayed us.”

Crucial evidence against Pulkit Arya emerged in the form of two audio recordings between him and Ankita’s friend, Pushp, according to NDTV. In the clips, Arya attempts to deflect suspicion and insinuates that Ankita was possibly with Pushp.

In one recording, Pushp asks: “Why did she take your phone last night?” Arya replies, “Her phone’s battery was dead, and I didn’t need mine, so I gave it to her.” Pushp responds, “Then why didn’t she call me? I tried her phone multiple times—it was switched off.”

Investigators suspected Arya had hoped the body would not be recovered, as per reports. If Ankita had simply disappeared, suspicion could have been deflected onto Pushp. Her phone was never found and is believed to have been destroyed to eliminate evidence.

Within 90 days, the police filed a 500-page charge sheet, as required for fast-track cases. Over 100 people were questioned—including resort staff, digital forensic experts, and Ankita’s friends. Forty-seven witnesses were presented in court.

The prosecution argued that Ankita was targeted for resisting Arya’s attempts to force her into prostitution. This claim was supported by audio evidence, chat records, and witness statements.

Final arguments concluded on May 19, 2025. On May 30, the court delivered its verdict: Pulkit Arya, Saurabh Bhaskar, and Ankit Gupta were all found guilty of murder.