By Arun Pratap Singh
Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 3 Feb: Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered a first information report (FIR) against an unknown VIP in the Ankita murder case. Following the registration of the FIR at the CBI‘s Crime Branch Branch Number Two in Delhi, a special team has arrived in Dehradun and begun in-depth probe into the matter.
It may be recalled that in September 2022, Ankita, a resident of Pauri district employed at the Vanantara Resort, was murdered and her body was found in the river at Chilla near Rishikesh. On 30 May 2024, the district court had convicted three accused, including resort owner Pulkit Arya, and sentenced them to life imprisonment. The investigation had revealed that Ankita was pressured to provide “special services” to a VIP, though the Special Investigation Team probe failed to identify this VIP.
A major twist had come recently after viral audio clips of former MLA Suresh Rathore and Urmila Sanawar sparked controversy and triggered protests across the state. Amid this, Ankita’s parents appealed to Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami for a fair and transparent investigation, demanding a CBI probe. Taking the demand seriously, Dhami formally recommended a CBI investigation on 9 January, leading the agency to register the FIR and commence proceedings.
The opposition parties had earlier created uproar, claiming the recommendation was merely to quell the agitation. However, with the FIR now filed and the probe formally underway, the government has asserted that this step ensures complete impartiality and transparency in the case, delivering a strong rebuttal to the opposition’s allegations.
The eyes of the entire state are now fixed on the CBI investigation, whether the unknown VIP’s identity will be revealed and whether Ankita will receive the full picture of justice remains to be seen in the coming days.
