my uttarakhand news Bureau
Dehradun, 30 Dec: A high-level delegation of Uttarakhand Pradesh Congress leaders, led by State Congress President Ganesh Godiyal, met Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) V Murugesan today and submitted a detailed memorandum raising several critical questions in the Ankita Bhandari murder case. The delegation demanded formal clarification from the police department, asserting that many aspects of the investigation remain unanswered and continue to cause public concern.
In the memorandum, Ganesh Godiyal has referred to a recent development in which a purported conversation between a former Bharatiya Janata Party MLA and his wife surfaced on social media. The Congress has claimed that, in this recording, the former MLA is allegedly heard identifying the ‘VIP’ mentioned in the case as Dushyant Kumar Gautam, also known as Gattu. While the state government and police issued a clarification through a video circulated on news channels and social media, Godiyal maintained that the Congress party firmly believes a VIP was indeed involved, whose unfulfilled demands led to Ankita Bhandari’s brutal murder.
The Congress delegation sought answers on several specific points. The Congress leaders questioned under whose orders a bulldozer was sent to demolish portions of the Vanantara Resort on the night following the recovery of Ankita’s body from the canal. They asked whether the Special Investigation Team (SIT) has recorded statements from those who operated the bulldozer and what facts have emerged in the SIT report regarding this demolition. The memorandum further raised the issue of whether the investigating agency has taken note of the Chief Minister’s initial acceptance of responsibility for the demolition of Ankita’s living quarters at 2:30 a.m., and whether the SIT report makes any mention of his statement.
The delegation also enquired whether the SIT has thoroughly investigated the WhatsApp messages between Ankita and her friend, in which she explicitly mentioned being under heavy pressure to provide ‘special services’ to a VIP. On the demand for a CBI probe, the Congress leaders asked why the government continues to oppose a CBI Inquiry despite demand from all the stakeholders. They further questioned the role of BJP MLA Renu Bisht in the demolition of Ankita’s bedroom and demanded that the SIT’s findings on her involvement be made public.
The Congress party has claimed that the SIT has yet to provide a satisfactory explanation regarding these serious allegations of administrative pressure. Godiyal has expressed concern over the police department’s repeated appeals to the public to provide evidence, noting that this only deepens suspicion given allegations that evidence was destroyed by the persons linked to the ruling party. He stated that many questions remain unanswered and urged the ADG Law & Order to make the SIT findings public in light of these queries to restore public faith in the legal system.
Among those who were part of the delegation were Congress General Secretary Rajendra Shah, Col (Retd) Ramratan Negi, Virendra Pokhriyal, Surendra Rangad, Abhinav Thapar, Neeraj Tyagi, Kamal Rawat, Vijay Pal Rawat, Pratima Singh and Garima Dasauni.
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