Arrest of Urmila Sanawar  a day after agreeing to undergo a Narco test in Ankita Bhandari murder case raises questions, another case instituted against her

Arrest of Urmila Sanawar  a day after agreeing to undergo a Narco test in Ankita Bhandari murder case raises questions, another case instituted against her

S.M.A. KAZMI

Dehradun, Oct 26

The arrest of Urmila Sanawar soon after she had agreed to a Narco test before CBI court in the famous Ankita Bhandari murder case accusing senior BJP leaders two days ago and slapping of another FIR against her last night raise many questions about the intentions of the ruling BJP/RSS dispensation in the case. She was arrested on a police complaint filed by daughter of Suresh Rathore for extortion and threat. She was arrested from her Saharanpur home by the Uttarakhand police on October 24 and remanded to judicial custody fore 14 days. Last night, another case was filed against her in Dehradun by a BJP worker.

Urmila Sanawar, who claims to be the wife of Seresh Rathore, a former BJP legislator from Haridwar had created a sensation last year when she came up with an audio recording of her husband in which he claimed that the ‘VIP’ for which Ankita Bhandari was murdered was senior RSS leader and then general secretary incharge of Uttarakhand BJP. The revelation jolted Uttarakhand state as widespread protests erupted seeking a CBI probe into the murder case.

Ankita Bhandari, a receptionist working at Vantara resort near Rishikesh was murdered by the Pulkit Arya, owner of the resort who is son an influential RSS leader along with his two accomplices for her refusal to provide “special services’ to a ‘VIP’ guest. Pulkit Arya along with two of his accomplices were sentenced to life imprisonment by court.

However, the revelations’ by Urmila Sanawar led to protests and pressure on the Uttarakhand BJP government. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami ordered a CBI enquiry but since then nothing was done by the premier investigating agency in the case.

The appointment of senior BJP and RSS leader Dushyant Gautam as Governor of Sikkim by the Narendra Modi government last week added fuel to the fire. It was considered as an attempt by the BJP to provide him legal immunity since Governors and President are not liable for any action till they hold office. This created an uproar against his appointment from Uttarakhand to Sikkim where he was appointed as Governor.

Virender Bhandari,  father of Ankita Bhandari was the first to condemn his appointment as Governor by the ruling party to provide him immunity from any legal action in the murder of his daughter. Both the parents, sat on a dharna at India Get last week where Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi visited them and extended support to their cause. This prompted the ruling BJP to act with Pauri Garhwal Lok Sabha MP Anil Baluni taking the parents to CBI officials in new Delhi. In an unusual move, CBI issued a photograph and a press release about their visit.

But, Urmila Sanawar, on summons from CBI court in Dehradun seeking her permission for a Narco test agreed on October 23. She said that she wanted that her test should be done in the presence of media. She further revealed the name of another senior RSS functionary at the national level for his alleged involvement in the case. Probably this prompted the ruling dispensation to get arrested on a complaint filed by daughter of Suresh Rathore.

Interestingly, a fresh FIR was registered against her at Kotwali Nagar police in Dehradun in connection with the circulation of allegedly defamatory statements on social media against several prominent figures, including the Governor of Sikkim, Dushyant Kumar Gautam. The case was registered on the night of October 25, following a complaint filed by Sagar, a resident of Moti Bazar. Urmila Sanawar has been accused of making objectionable statements in the video. The police are also investigating the roles of others who circulated the footage.

According to the complaint, a video—purportedly filmed outside the CBI Court on Haridwar Road—is circulating on social media. The complainant alleges that in the video, Urmila Sanawar, while speaking before media cameras and microphones, makes allegedly objectionable and defamatory personal accusations against the Governor of Sikkim, Dushyant Kumar Gautam, as well as B.L. Santhosh and Aarti Gaur.

The complaint states that levelling such allegations against the individuals in question—without any judicial order or supporting evidence—could damage their social standing. It further expresses concern that such content could incite confusion, public outrage, and discord within society. Based on the complaint, the police have registered an FIR under Sections 79, 352, 353, and 356 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

Opposition leaders have questioned the intentions of the ruling BJP in arresting her. Indresh Maikhuri, secretary of Uttarakhand unit of CPI (ML) said that instead of providing security to Urmila Sanawar ,an important witness in Ankita Bhandari case, Uttarakhand police has arrested her a day after she agreed for a Narco test. Congress presented Ganesh Godiyal has also questioned the intentions and motives of the BJP/RSS in Ankita Bhandari case.