Murder of Ankita Bhandari

Ankita Bhandari (11 November 2003 – 18 September 2022) was an Indian receptionist from Pauri who was allegedly raped and subsequently murdered at the Vanantra Resort in Ganga-Bhogpur in Rishikesh , Uttarakhand. The case gained much publicity in national and state media due to its disastrous mismanagement and supposed involvement of a politically influential 'VIP' in sex coercion, but no identification has been made. The theory is supported by statements of her mother. Though the chats presented in the Chargesheet, did not mention any specific VIP Angle.

Three main accused Pulkit Arya (owner of the resort), Ankit Gupta (Assistant Resort Manager) and Saurabh Bhaskar (Resort Manager) confessed to the murder and are facing trial on charges of abduction and murder. BJP MLA Renu Bisht was also accused in court for attempting to cover up the crime by having ordered an unlawful demolition of the resort.

The primary accused, Pulkit Arya, is the son of Vinod Arya, a BJP senior worker from Haridwar, he was a former chairperson of Uttarakhand Mati Kala Board, and is the younger brother of Ankit Arya, then the Vice President of Uttarakhand OBC Commission.

A district court in Kotdwar convicted Pulkit Arya, Saurabh Bhaskar and Ankit Gupta for the murder of Ankita Bhandari on 30th May 2025. The verdict was delivered by Additional District and Sessions Judge Reena Negi.