DEHRADUN: Four years after the murder of 19-year-old Uttarakhand receptionist Ankita Bhandari, social organisations, women’s groups, ex-servicemen and political activists on Friday renewed their demand for disclosure of the alleged “VIP” linked to the case.
Under the banner of the Ankita Nyaya Yatra Sanyukt Sangharsh Manch, protesters gathered at Gandhi Park to pay tribute to Bhandari. They later formed a human chain from the park to the Clock Tower, accusing the Uttarakhand government of failing to address key questions surrounding the case.
“The people of Uttarakhand have not forgotten Ankita,” said Prakash Thapliyal, senior vice-president of the Uttarakhand Ex-Servicemen and Paramilitary Joint Organisation.
“She sacrificed her life to protect her dignity, but her family is still awaiting complete justice. Ankita had spoken about threats to her life and pressure to provide ‘special services’ to a VIP. Those statements should have been examined with the seriousness they deserved,” he alleged.
The protesters demanded an impartial investigation into the allegations concerning the unidentified VIP and said anyone found involved should face legal action, irrespective of status or political connections.
They also questioned the circumstances surrounding Bhandari’s cremation, alleging that it was conducted late in the evening in violation of customary practices. They demanded greater transparency in the investigation and renewed calls for a Central Bureau of Investigation probe.
“If a daughter does not receive justice, it sends a dangerous message to society,” Thapliyal said. “Uttarakhand has a large population of serving and retired soldiers. The safety and dignity of their families must also be protected.”
Nirmala Bisht of the Uttarakhand Mahila Manch said several questions connected with the case remained unanswered. She urged the government to clarify the alleged VIP angle and ensure that Bhandari’s parents were fully satisfied with the course of justice.
The protesters warned that they would intensify their agitation if the government failed to take transparent action.
Bhandari disappeared on September 18, 2022, while working as a receptionist at Vanantara Resort in Ganga-Bhogpur in Pauri Garhwal district. Her body was later recovered from the Chilla canal.
The police investigation revealed that resort owner Pulkit Arya, son of an expelled BJP leader, and two employees had pressured her to provide “special services” to a guest, but she had refused.
In May 2025, a court sentenced Arya and the two other convicts to life imprisonment for Bhandari’s murder. Activists, however, maintain that the identity and possible role of the alleged VIP remain unresolved.