Ankita Bhandari murder case: Uttarakhand CM recommends CBI inquiry

The Uttarakhand government has recommended a CBI inquiry into the Ankita Bhadari case on Friday. Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said the state government has taken the decision while respecting the request and sentiments of the parents of late Ankita Bhandari.

Ankita, who worked in a resort in Pauri district, was allegedly murdered in September 2022. The opposition parties continued to target the state government over this incident.

Two days back, Ankita’s parents met the chief minister Dhami in Dehradun and made him aware about their sentiment.


In a press release, issued by the state’s public information department, CM Dhami made it clear that the objective of the government has been and will continue to be to ensure justice in a fair, transparent and sensitive manner from beginning to end.

CM Dhami said that the state government acted without delay, with complete sensitivity and impartiality soon after coming to know about this tragic incident. Given the gravity of the case, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was immediately formed, headed by a woman IPS officer, the release said.

CM Dhami said that all the accused in the case were promptly arrested, and the state government ensured effective and vigorous advocacy, resulting in no accused being granted bail during the investigation and trial. Following a thorough investigation by the SIT, a charge-sheet was filed against the accused, and upon completion of the trial, the lower court sentenced the accused to life imprisonment.

He said that the state government has ensured justice with fairness, transparency, and firmness from start to finish. Besides, separate FIRs have been filed in connection with some audio clips circulating on social media in recent days, and investigations are ongoing.

Chief Minister Dhami said that the government's intentions are clear, and that no facts or evidence will be ignored. “He became emotional, stating that Ankita was not just a victim, but also our sister and daughter,” the release mentioned.

CM Dhami said that he recently met with the parents of the late Ankita Bhandari, during which they requested a CBI investigation into the matter. The chief minister said that in full respect of the request and sentiments of Ankita's parents, the state government has decided to recommend a CBI probe in this case.

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami reiterated that the state government has been committed to ensuring justice in the past and will continue to do so with full determination and sensitivity to ensure justice for late sister Ankita Bhandari.