Kotdwar: In a landmark verdict that has brought closure to a case that shocked the nation, the Additional District and Sessions Court in Kotdwar on Friday sentenced all three accused in the Ankita Bhandari murder case to life imprisonment.
Delivering the judgment in Case Crime No. 1/22, the court found Pulkit Arya, Saurabh Bhaskar, and Ankit Gupta guilty under Sections 302 (murder), 201 (causing disappearance of evidence), 354A (sexual harassment) of the IPC, and Section 3(1)(d) of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act. The case has been in the public spotlight since September 2022, following the brutal murder of 19-year-old receptionist Ankita Bhandari in Uttarakhand.
Speaking to the media, Ankita’s lawyer Ajay Pant stated:“Three accused, Pulkit Arya, Saurabh Bhaskar, and Ankit Gupta, have been found guilty of Ankita’s murder in the Additional District and Sessions Judge Court, Kotdwar, Uttarakhand. The sentence against the three accused is life imprisonment.”
The Case That Shook the State
Ankita Bhandari, a resident of Pauri Garhwal, worked as a receptionist at Vanantara Resort near Rishikesh. The resort was owned by Pulkit Arya, son of former BJP leader Vinod Arya. The case drew widespread outrage when it was revealed that Ankita was allegedly being pressured to provide “extra services” to VIP guests. Her resistance reportedly led to her being assaulted and pushed into the Chilla canal on the night of September 18, 2022.
Her body was recovered from the canal on September 24, six days after she was reported missing. The incident prompted mass protests and sparked a state-wide outcry over women’s safety and political privilege.
Political Fallout
Following the emergence of Pulkit Arya’s name in the case, his father Vinod Arya was expelled from the BJP. The Uttarakhand government also faced public pressure over delayed action and the destruction of the crime scene, as the resort was allegedly bulldozed before forensic teams could inspect it.
The investigation was handed over to a Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by DIG P. Renuka Devi, who ensured a thorough probe.
Public Reaction and Impact
The verdict has been widely welcomed by citizens and activists across the country, many of whom had taken to streets and social media demanding “Justice for Ankita.” The case has also reignited discussions around women’s safety, the misuse of power, and systemic reforms in hospitality and law enforcement.
