Ankita Bhandari Murder Case: All 3 Accused Sentenced To Rigorous Life Imprisonment By Uttarakhand Court

Uttarakhand: In a significant development in the high-profile Ankita Bhandari murder case, a court in Uttarakhand sentenced all three accused to life imprisonment with rigorous detention for the brutal killing of the 19-year-old receptionist in 2022.

The verdict was pronounced by Additional District and Sessions Judge Reena Negi in Kotdwar, convicting Pulkit Arya, the main accused and owner of Vanantara resort near Rishikesh, along with his employees Saurabh Bhaskar and Ankit Gupta, for the murder of Ankita Bhandari.

The court found the trio guilty of murdering Ankita, who disappeared on September 18, 2022, and whose body was later recovered from a canal on September 24. The prosecution claimed that Pulkit Arya, son of the now-expelled BJP leader Vinod Arya, had a dispute with Ankita, after which he, along with Saurabh and Ankit, pushed her into the canal.

This case triggered widespread public outrage and massive protests across Uttarakhand, demanding swift justice for Ankita.

Case Timeline:

• September 18, 2022: Ankita Bhandari went missing from Vanantara resort.
• September 24, 2022: Her body was found in a canal nearby.
• January 30, 2023: The trial commenced after the police arrested the three accused.
• March 28, 2023: The prosecution started presenting witnesses.
• May 19, 2025: Final arguments concluded.
• May 30, 2025: All accused were convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment.

The court’s decision was based on a 500-page chargesheet filed by the Special Investigation Team (SIT), and 47 witnesses, including the investigating officer, testified during the proceedings.