Members of Congress Seva Dal hold a candle march demanding justice in the Ankita Bhandari murder case, from Raisina Road towards Ashoka Road in New Delhi on Friday (Oct 16). Photo: PTI
Ankita Bhandari murder case: CBI questions ex-BJP MLA Suresh Rathore
The questioning comes a day after Ankita’s parents met senior CBI officials and sought narco-analysis tests on Suresh Rathore and actress Urmila Sanawar over allegations of a VIP link
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Saturday (October 17) began questioning former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Suresh Rathore in connection with the 2022 murder of 19-year-old resort receptionist Ankita Bhandari in Uttarakhand.
According to news agency ANI, a CBI team questioned Rathore at a guest house in Haridwar, a day after Ankita’s parents met senior officials of the investigating agency and sought narco-analysis tests on Rathore and actress Urmila Sanawar.
The parents have alleged that a purported audio recording involving Rathore and Sanawar, which recently went viral, raised questions about the alleged involvement of a senior BJP leader in the case.
Ankita’s body was recovered in Pauri Garhwal district in September 2022, triggering widespread outrage.
Parents meet CBI chief
Ankita’s parents, Virendra Singh Bhandari and his wife, met the CBI Director on Friday (October 16) in the presence of Lok Sabha MP Anil Baluni. They submitted a letter seeking narco-analysis tests on Rathore and Sanawar, according to an officer.
Also Read: Ankita Bhandari murder: Parents detained during India Gate protest, released at 5 am
Speaking to ANI, Virendra Singh Bhandari said they had also urged the authorities to defer the appointment of former Uttarakhand BJP in-charge Dushyant Kumar Gautam to any constitutional or official position until the tests were conducted.
The parents’ demand comes amid allegations of a possible “VIP angle” in the murder. The allegations have not, by themselves, established any wrongdoing by the individuals named.
Protest over Governor appointment
The meeting followed the detention of Ankita’s parents at India Gate in New Delhi, where they had staged a sit-in against Dushyant Kumar Gautam’s appointment as the Governor of Sikkim.
They want the appointment put on hold until the CBI completes its investigation into the alleged VIP link. Gautam served as the BJP’s Uttarakhand in-charge from November 2020 to August 2026, and was appointed Sikkim Governor earlier this week.
Also Read: CBI registers fresh case to probe alleged ‘VIP’ role in Ankita Bhandari murder
Ankita’s family has repeatedly demanded accountability over the alleged VIP angle, insisting that the investigation address the questions surrounding their daughter’s death.