Kotdwar, Uttarakhand: After nearly three years of emotional turmoil and relentless legal pursuit, justice has finally been delivered in the Ankita Bhandari murder case. A Kotdwar court on Friday convicted all three accused — Pulkit Arya, owner of the Vanantara Resort, and his employees Saurabh Bhaskar and Ankit Gupta — for the brutal murder of the 19-year-old receptionist.
The trio has been found guilty under Sections 302 (murder), 201 (causing disappearance of evidence), and 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) of the Indian Penal Code. All three have been sentenced to life imprisonment and fined ₹50,000 each.
Tight Security Outside Court
Given the sensitivity of the case and the public anger it has generated, heavy police deployment was maintained outside the court to prevent any untoward incident.
A Long Fight for Justice
The final verdict comes two years and eight months after Ankita’s murder in September 2022. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) had filed a 500-page chargesheet, and the case involved the testimony of 47 witnesses. The court proceedings began on January 30, 2023, and the final hearing concluded on May 19, 2025, with sentencing pronounced today.
Why Was Ankita Murdered?
Ankita Bhandari was working as a receptionist at Vanantara Resort near Rishikesh. On September 18, 2022, she was murdered by Pulkit Arya — the resort’s owner and son of a former BJP leader — along with his associates. Her body was later found in the Chilla canal, five days after she went missing.
Investigations revealed that Ankita had refused to provide “special services” to a VIP guest, which led to a confrontation. This refusal allegedly enraged Pulkit and his associates, resulting in her being pushed into the canal after a violent altercation.
Ankita had taken the job to support her family financially and had been employed for less than three weeks when the tragedy occurred.
Public Outrage and Arrests
The horrific nature of the crime sparked massive outrage across Uttarakhand. Citizens took to the streets demanding justice and swift action. The pressure ultimately led to the arrest of Pulkit Arya, Saurabh Bhaskar, and Ankit Gupta, who have remained in custody ever since.
Closure, But Scars Remain
While the verdict has brought some sense of closure to the grieving family, the deep scars left by the murder of a young woman full of promise continue to haunt the collective conscience of the state.
This landmark judgment is being seen as a symbol of accountability and justice, especially in crimes involving power and privilege.
