Kumar Bahukhandi
The Ankita Bhandari murder case will be investigated by the CBI. (File Photo: ITG)
Dehradun: The Ankita Bhandari murder case continues to fuel political tensions in Uttarakhand, even after the recommendation for a CBI investigation. The Congress party is calling it a victory for the people’s struggle, while the BJP government is defending its decision. Several questions still remain regarding the involvement of a VIP, the demolition of the resort, and the initial investigation. Uttarakhand BJP president Mahendra Bhatt said that Chief Minister Dhami is a sensitive leader and has approved the CBI inquiry as promised to the victim’s parents.
Uttarakhand is once again in turmoil over the Ankita Bhandari murder case. Amidst protests across the state by the Congress party, regional parties, and social organisations, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has recommended a CBI investigation into the Ankita Bhandari case. The investigation will now be handled by the CBI.
CM Dhami recommends CBI investigation
Earlier, opposition parties had called for a Uttarakhand bandh (shutdown) on January 11 to demand punishment for Ankita’s killers. The day before, Chief Minister Dhami had also met Ankita’s parents and assured them that the government would study their demands and take further action. The very next day, the state government accepted Ankita Bhandari’s parents’ demand for a CBI investigation.
However, the opposition’s attack has not stopped even after this decision. Uttarakhand Congress spokesperson Garima Dasauni said that merely announcing a CBI investigation is not enough. She questioned who the VIP was, whose name has repeatedly surfaced in this case? She also asked who ordered the bulldozer action at the resort on the night of the incident. The Congress party maintains that until these questions are answered, justice remains incomplete.
Call for a shutdown on January 11
Meanwhile, after the recommendation for a CBI investigation, Uttarakhand Congress President Ganesh Godiyal took a dig at the government, saying that this decision indicates that the government acknowledges that mistakes were made in the initial investigation. He called it a victory for the joint struggle and public pressure.
On the other hand, Uttarakhand BJP President and Rajya Sabha MP Mahendra Bhatt defended the Chief Minister’s decision. He said that Chief Minister Dhami is a sensitive leader and has approved the CBI investigation as promised to the parents.
Was a clean chit given in haste?
Bhatt appealed to the public and all political parties to now leave the matter to the CBI and not repeatedly hurt the soul of the deceased Ankita by using the word ‘VIP’. He also reminded everyone that all three accused in this case are currently in jail.
This case once again came into the spotlight at the end of 2025 when a leader, who was being referred to as a VIP, approached the High Court, and orders were issued to remove discussions related to his name from several places. During this time, Chief Minister Dhami’s statement also came to light, claiming that the leader was not present in Uttarakhand at the time of the incident.
