By Arun Pratap SinghGarhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun/Haridwar, 8 Jan: Actor Urmila Sanawar today reached Haridwar from Dehradun, where she was taken to the SOG office for SIT questioning in connection with the Ankita Bhandari murder case, even as a fresh video of her has gone viral on social media. In the video, Sanawar is seen stating that she was questioned by the police for nearly six hours in Dehradun in relation to the case, during which she claimed to have extended full cooperation, answered all the questions and provided whatever material was in her possession to the Police. In the video, she also stated that justice must be delivered to Ankita Bhandari, whom she described as the daughter of the entire nation. In the video she even asserted that a CBI or any other high-level investigation should also be conducted in the case, if required. She also stated that she was willing to undergo a narco test if necessary.
In the same video, Sanawar expressed concern over her name being linked with politics, stating that some people were portraying her as aligned with the Congress while others were suggesting links with factions within the BJP. She appealed to people not to politicise the Ankita Bhandari case and said her only objective is to ensure justice for Ankita. my uttarakhand news, however clarifies that the authenticity of the viral video has could not be independently verified.
It may be recalled that yesterday Dehradun Police had questioned Sanawar for several hours in connection with the audio and video clips related to the Ankita Bhandari murder case that were earlier circulated on social media. She was questioned in detail about the source of these clips and the circumstances under which they were made public. Doon Police had informed the media, late last evening that Sanawar is expected to appear before the SIT in Haridwar on Thursday (today) in connection with the case. The Police questioning yesterday was conducted by the investigating officers of two FIRs registered at Nehru Colony and Dalanwala police stations. SSP Ajai Singh said Sanawar had been summoned for questioning and her statements were recorded as part of the investigation.
Significantly, the Doon Police claimed after the questioning that Sanawar submitted audio clips of her conversation with Suresh Rathore to the investigating officers, which have been sent for scientific examination at the forensic science laboratory. The SSP also said that a detailed report has been sought from the LIU on the application submitted by Sanawar seeking security.
Sanawar had arrived in Dehradun on Tuesday night around 9 p.m. along with Swami Darshan Bharti and was contacted by the media at several locations. According to sources, she was summoned for questioning yesterday and was asked several questions relating to the case. Copies of the audio and video material available with her were taken into police custody during the questioning.
Police officials stated that apart from the recording of the conversation between Sanawar and Suresh Rathore, no other material containing any new facts related to the Ankita Bhandari murder case has been submitted by her or recovered from her. Police said she possessed only one audio recording, which was recovered from her main phone, along with a few videos that she herself had recorded. No corroborative material was found to substantiate the claims made in the audio conversation. The officials claim that while the audio recording refers to a politician’s name, Sanawar could not provide any evidence to support or establish the assertions made during the recorded conversation.
It may be recalled that an audio recording of a conversation between Suresh Rathore and Sanawar had gone viral last month, following which Sanawar released several videos reiterating the name of a politician on the basis of that conversation. These audio and video clips had already been sent by the police for forensic examination. During questioning in Dehradun yesterday, the police had sought supporting material corresponding to the claims made in these clips, but Sanawar repeatedly cited the same audio and video as evidence. Police stated that she was unable to explain the factual basis of the conversation heard in the audio or provide any material to substantiate it.
Sanawar today appeared before the SIT in Haridwar with the same audio and video material. Police sources said the preliminary inquiry so far has not yielded any material of investigative value in the Ankita Bhandari murder case. Sanawar had earlier claimed, prior to reaching Dehradun, that she possessed several pieces of evidence linking VIPs to the case, which she would provide to the SIT. While she was questioned in Dehradun in connection with the two FIRs registered there, questioning relating to the Haridwar FIR is now being conducted by the SIT in Haridwar.
The Doon Police also confirmed that Sanawar had yesterday submitted an application to the SSP seeking security, on which a detailed report has been sought from the LIU for any further action.
It may be recalled that, on 22 December, Sanawar had made public audio-video recordings of her conversation with former BJP MLA Suresh Rathore, in which both were heard discussing the Ankita Bhandari murder case and referring to a purported VIP named “Gattu”. Following the circulation of these clips, there was widespread public outrage, with demands intensifying for the arrest of a VIP allegedly linked to the case. The Congress took up the issue as a major political plank, leading to protests and demonstrations across the state, and Congress state president Ganesh Godiyal also addressed a press conference in Delhi on 23 December, during which the audio recording was played.
The developments have led to a surge in protests demanding justice for Ankita Bhandari, compelling government ministers to address the issue through press conferences. As the political temperature continued to rise, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami addressed a press conference on Tuesday, accusing the Congress of politicising the issue and stating that he would meet Ankita Bhandari’s parents. On Wednesday, the Chief Minister also met Ankita Bhandari’s parents, who shared their anguish with him, and he assured them of positive and appropriate action.
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