Ankita Bhandari murder case: Day after parents meet CBI, ex-BJP MLA Suresh Rathore faces questioning

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has begun questioning former BJP MLA Suresh Rathore in connection with the 2022 Ankita Bhandari murder case, a day after the victim's parents met senior agency officials and demanded narco-analysis tests on him and actor Urmila Sanawar.

According to news agency ANI, a CBI team was questioning Rathore at a guest house in Haridwar on Saturday. The development comes amid renewed demands by Ankita's family for a thorough investigation into the alleged VIP angle in the case.

Parents demand narco tests on Rathore, Sanawar

Ankita's parents met senior CBI officials on Friday and submitted a letter seeking narco-analysis tests on Rathore and Sanawar. The demand followed the circulation of an audio recording that allegedly raised questions about the involvement of a senior BJP leader in the case.

“Ankita’s parents also gave a letter demanding narco-tests on both Rathore and Sanawar saying their audio recording recently went viral and it had allegations of involvement of a senior BJP leader in the case,” an officer requesting anonymity had said.

The 19-year-old resort receptionist's body was found in Uttarakhand's Pauri Garhwal district in 2022. The case had triggered widespread outrage across the state.

Family opposes Dushyant Gautam's gubernatorial appointment

During their meeting with the CBI Director, attended by Lok Sabha MP Anil Baluni, Ankita's parents also urged the authorities to put on hold the appointment of former Uttarakhand BJP in-charge Dushyant Kumar Gautam as Sikkim Governor until the investigation into the alleged VIP angle is completed.

“Our primary demand was that, given that Dushyant Kumar Gautam’s name has surfaced in connection with the case involving my daughter, Ankita Bhandari, he should not be administered the oath of office as a Governor or in any other official capacity until narco-analysis tests are conducted on Suresh Rathore and Urmila Sanawar,” Ankita Bhandari's father Virendra Singh Bhandari told ANI.

The demand came days after Ankita's parents were detained in Delhi while protesting at India Gate against Gautam's appointment.

“Dushyant Kumar should go to jail...because of the VIP my daughter was murdered,” Ankita's father had said.

Gautam, who served as the BJP's Uttarakhand in-charge from November 2020 to August 2026, was appointed Sikkim Governor earlier this week.