Dainik Nation News Portal
DAINIK NATION BUREAU/KOTDWAR
In a landmark judgment, the Additional District and Sessions Court in Kotdwar on Friday sentenced all three accused—Pulkit Arya, Saurabh Bhaskar, and Ankit Gupta—to life imprisonment in the Ankita Bhandari murder case. Earlier, the court had found the trio guilty, marking a significant step toward justice in a case that had triggered statewide and national outrage.
The brutal murder of Ankita Bhandari, a 19-year-old receptionist at a resort in September 2022, had sent shockwaves across the country. Responding swiftly, the Uttarakhand government under Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami ensured that the accused were arrested within 24 hours of the incident and have remained in jail since then.
To ensure a fair and thorough investigation, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by IPS officer Renuka Devi was constituted. The SIT filed a detailed 500-page charge sheet, which included statements from more than 100 witnesses. The case was further strengthened by invoking the Gangster Act against the accused.
The government changed its legal counsel thrice on the request of Ankita’s family to ensure effective representation. The prosecution’s strong advocacy ensured repeated rejection of the accused’s bail pleas.
In a show of support, the state provided ₹25 lakh financial assistance to Ankita’s family. Her father and brother were also given government jobs for their livelihood.
The government has also criticized opposition leaders, particularly the Congress and activist Ashutosh Negi, for allegedly misleading the public and politicizing the issue without contributing constructively during legal proceedings.
As Uttarakhand awaits the formal pronouncement of the sentence, this verdict is being seen as a major milestone in the pursuit of justice and a reaffirmation of the state’s commitment to women’s safety.
