An Uttarakhand court on Friday found Pulkit Arya, son of a former BJP leader, and two others guilty for the murder of 19-year-old Ankita Bhandari. Ankita worked as a receptionist at Vanantara Resort in Yamkeshwar, Pauri district, which is owned by Pulkit Arya.

Ankita disappeared on September 18, 2022. A few days later, her body was found in the Chilla canal. The case caused a big uproar across the country about women’s safety, political power, and justice. People were angry about the slow investigation and political protection for the accused.

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) prepared a detailed 500-page chargesheet. It included 97 witnesses, and 47 of them gave evidence during the trial that started on March 28, 2023.

Pulkit Arya and the two others—Saurabh Bhaskar and Ankit Gupta—were charged with murder (section 302), hiding evidence (section 201), sexual harassment (section 354A), and under the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act. Later, they were also charged under the Gangster Act.

Pulkit Arya, whose father Vinod Arya is now suspended from BJP, is accused of forcing Ankita to give ‘special service’ to customers at the resort.

Before the court’s decision, Ankita’s mother asked for the death penalty for all three. She said, "May the criminals be sentenced to death... I appeal to the public of Uttarakhand to keep on supporting us and come to the Kotdwar court to boost our morale," speaking to news agency ANI.

The court’s verdict has brought some relief to the family and supporters demanding justice for Ankita Bhandari.

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