Archive · 29 Dec 2025
Police Investigate New Claims in Uttarakhand Murder Case
A TV actress named Urmila Sanawar has made new allegations in the 2022 murder case of a 19-year-old receptionist named Ankita Bhandari at a resort in Uttarakhand.
Urmila claims that a BJP leader, Dushyant Kumar Gautam, referred to as 'Gattu,' was involved in the murder.
The resort's manager and assistant manager are already serving life sentences for the murder.
Dushyant Kumar Gautam denies these allegations and has threatened to file a defamation suit.
The Uttarakhand Police have filed two FIRs and are investigating the new claims.
The police have appealed to the public to come forward with any evidence related to the case.
The initial investigation was conducted by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) under a female IPS officer, and the courts found the investigation to be fair and lawful.
Uttarakhand Police have filed two FIRs and are investigating new allegations in the 2022 murder case of Ankita Bhandari.
Urmila Sanawar, a TV actress, alleges that BJP leader Dushyant Kumar Gautam was the VIP involved in the murder.
Dushyant Kumar Gautam denies the allegations and has threatened to file a defamation suit.
The resort's manager and assistant manager are already serving life sentences for the murder.
The initial investigation was conducted by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) under a female IPS officer, and the courts found the investigation to be fair and lawful.
- Who
- Uttarakhand Police, Urmila Sanawar, Dushyant Kumar Gautam, Ankita Bhandari
- What
- Investigation into new allegations related to the 2022 murder of Ankita Bhandari at a resort in Uttarakhand
- When
- September 2022 (murder), recent (allegations and investigation)
- Where
- Venantara resort near Haridwar, Uttarakhand
- Why
- Urmila Sanawar's allegations implicating Dushyant Kumar Gautam in the murder case
Urmila Sanawar
Dushyant Kumar Gautam
Involvement in Murder
Urmila Sanawar
Urmila Sanawar alleges that Dushyant Kumar Gautam, referred to as 'Gattu,' was the VIP involved in the murder of Ankita Bhandari.
Dushyant Kumar Gautam
Dushyant Kumar Gautam denies any involvement in the murder and has threatened to file a defamation suit against Urmila Sanawar.
- Victim
- Ankita Bhandari, 19-year-old receptionist
- Location
- Venantara resort near Haridwar, Uttarakhand
- Accused
- Pulkit Arya (resort manager), assistant manager, and an unidentified person
- Alleged VIP
- Dushyant Kumar Gautam (BJP leader)
- Accuser
- Urmila Sanawar (TV actress and alleged wife of former BJP MLA Suresh Rathore)
- Status
- Police investigating allegations; two FIRs filed
- Investigation Team
- Special Investigation Team (SIT) under a female IPS officer
- Court Rulings
- High Court and Supreme Court denied pleas to hand over the investigation to the CBI, finding the SIT investigation fair and lawful