The parents of Ankita Bhandari, the 19-year-old resort receptionist whose death in 2022 sparked widespread public outcry, met with senior officials from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) at the agency’s headquarters in New Delhi to formally request further investigation into the case. Virendra Singh Bhandari and Soni Devi, accompanied by BJP Member of Parliament Anil Baluni, held discussions with two CBI special directors, Manoj Sashidhar and Sampat Meena, seeking new investigative measures to uncover further details surrounding their daughter’s death.
The family specifically submitted a letter demanding that the agency conduct narco-analysis tests on former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Suresh Rathore and actress Urmila Sanawar. According to individuals familiar with the proceedings, the demand stems from recent viral audio recordings that allegedly contain mentions of a senior BJP leader’s involvement in the case. The parents are seeking to establish the facts behind these recordings as part of the ongoing inquiry.
A spokesperson for the CBI confirmed the meeting, stating that the parents provided information regarding various aspects of the case. The official added that the agency has assured the family that the investigation will be conducted in a fair and impartial manner, with all evidence and claims brought forward being thoroughly examined. Dushyant Kumar Gautam, whose name has been linked to the case by critics, has not been named as an accused and has consistently denied any association with the incident.
The meeting occurred shortly after the parents were detained by Delhi Police at India Gate on Thursday. They had been participating in a protest against the appointment of former Uttarakhand BJP in-charge Dushyant Kumar Gautam as the Governor of Sikkim. Following the detention, Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra met with the parents, with Rahul Gandhi alleging that the government was attempting to silence the family’s pursuit of justice.
The death of Ankita Bhandari, who was employed at the Vanantra resort in Pauri Garhwal, remains a sensitive and politically charged issue in Uttarakhand. The 19-year-old went missing on September 18, 2022, only three weeks after she began her employment. Her body was discovered in a canal several days later, triggering mass protests across the state over concerns regarding the initial handling of the investigation by local authorities.
Legal proceedings in the case have already resulted in convictions. On May 30, 2025, the Additional District and Sessions Court in Kotdwar sentenced the three primary accused—identified as Pulkit Arya, Saurabh Bhaskar, and Ankit Gupta—to rigorous life imprisonment for their roles in the crime. Despite these convictions, the case has remained in the public eye due to ongoing political developments and the family's persistent demands for a deeper probe into potential wider involvement.
Political pressure continued on Friday, as Congress leaders in Uttarakhand organized a bike rally to demand justice and express their opposition to the appointment of Dushyant Gautam to the governorship. The party has called for a stay on his appointment until the CBI investigation is fully concluded. As the situation evolves, the focus remains on the CBI’s next steps regarding the new requests for forensic testing provided by the Bhandari family.
Comments