A special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court in Dehradun approved narco-analysis and polygraph tests for television actor Urmila Sanawar on Friday, November 13, 2026. These examinations are part of an ongoing probe into the 2022 murder of 19-year-old Ankita Bhandari, specifically regarding an audio recording that reportedly references a politically influential “VIP.”
Ms. Sanawar’s lawyer, Shivani Tomar, confirmed to the media that her client had voluntarily consented to the procedures. Ms. Sanawar, who previously appeared before the court on October 26 to provide her consent, is expected to undergo a medical examination by the third week of November before traveling to Gandhinagar, Gujarat, for the tests. According to The Hindu, a schedule for the examinations will be finalized following the medical assessment.
The CBI investigation into the alleged VIP link gained momentum after the agency issued notices to Ms. Sanawar and former BJP MLA Suresh Rathore in October 2026. Both individuals appeared before the special CBI court on October 23 and agreed to the testing. The controversy stems from audio and video recordings released by Ms. Sanawar in December 2025, in which she claimed a politically influential person was connected to the crime. She has specifically identified the current Governor of Sikkim, Dushyant Kumar Gautam, as the individual referred to in the recordings. Mr. Gautam has denied the allegations and has filed a defamation suit in the Delhi High Court against several parties, including the Uttarakhand Congress.
Ms. Sanawar recently faced legal challenges, including an arrest in Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, on October 25, in connection with a separate FIR registered in Dehradun over alleged defamatory remarks against Mr. Gautam and other BJP leaders. The Indian Express reported that she was also named in a defamation and extortion complaint filed by the daughter of former MLA Suresh Rathore. She was later granted bail and released from Haridwar’s Roshanabad jail.
Key facts
- Ankita Bhandari, a resort receptionist, was murdered in September 2022 by resort owner Pulkit Arya and two aides.
- The three accused were convicted by a Pauri court in May 2025 and sentenced to life imprisonment.
- The CBI took over the case in February 2026 to investigate the alleged VIP link mentioned in recordings.
- Ms. Sanawar and former BJP MLA Suresh Rathore both provided voluntary consent for scientific tests in October 2026.
- The tests for Ms. Sanawar are scheduled to take place in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
Why it matters
The investigation into the alleged VIP connection has remained a sensitive political issue since the 2022 murder. The involvement of the CBI and the court-ordered testing process follow years of public protests and allegations from the victim's parents, who previously claimed that political influence prevented a thorough investigation into the identity of the guests at the Vanantra Resort.
Background
Ankita Bhandari was killed in September 2022 after allegedly refusing to provide “special services” to guests at the Vanantra Resort in Pauri district. The case sparked widespread unrest in Uttarakhand, leading to debates over the initial handling of the investigation by local revenue police and the subsequent demolition of parts of the resort.
Source: The Hindu, Indian Express
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