‘Dhami government acted with sensitivity in Ankita Bhandari case’: BJP leader Bhatt

Uttarakhand's new government has been praised by BJP leader Mahendra Bhatt for handling the Ankita Bhandari murder case with sensitivity, responsibility, and speed. Bhatt dismissed opposition allegations as politically motivated, noting that the accused were arrested and jailed within 24 hours of the incident being reported. A Special Investigation Team was formed immediately, resulting in a thorough evidence-based chargesheet and the guilty party receiving life imprisonment.

The Congress leader Rahul Gandhi criticized the Modi government for detaining Ankita's parents, stating that it silenced victims' voices and removed those who questioned actions. However, Bhatt highlighted the government's accommodation of key requests, including changing government lawyers and initiating a CBI investigation as demanded by Ankita's parents.

The administration provided ₹25 lakh in financial assistance and employment opportunities for family members, demonstrating a focus on supporting the bereaved family beyond administrative actions. Ankita, a receptionist at Vanantra Resort in Rishikesh, was killed on September 18, 2022, and her body was found in the Chilla canal four days later.

Convicted murderer Pulkit Arya, son of former BJP leader Vinod Arya, along with two accomplices, received life imprisonment sentences in the case.