The body of a 19-year-old receptionist, who went missing on the premises of a private resort owned by BJP leader's son Pulkit Arya, has been found by the police in a canal in Rishikesh days after her murder. The cops found the woman's body near Chilla power house, sending shockwaves in the northern state.

Following the orders of Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, Vanatara Resort in Rishikesh is being demolished. Dhami on Friday (September 23) gave strict instructions to District Magistrates to investigate all the resorts of the state. Along with this, the Chief Minister has also ordered to ensure that necessary action is taken against resorts that are operating illegally.

Pulkit, the son of Bharatiya Janata Party leader from Hardiwar, and a former chairman of Uttarakhand Mati Kala Board. Vinod Arya has been granted a state minister’s rank but holds no post in the government. Pulkit Arya, the resort owner, manager Saurabh Bhaskar, and assistant manager Ankit Gupta were arrested after they confessed to have killed the missing girl and thrown her body into the Chilla Canal, Pauri Additional Superintendent of Police Shekhar Chandra Suyal said.

Initially, they tried to mislead the police, but when interrogated sternly they confessed to the crime, the ASP said. A team has been sent to search for the girl’s body in the canal, he said, adding the case was cracked within 24 hours of being transferred from the revenue police to regular police.

The three accused were sent to a 14-day judicial custody by a Kotdwar court, police said. A missing complaint had been lodged at a revenue police outpost after the girl was not found in her room by her parents on Monday morning.

“However, whether there was a prostitution racket or it is a standalone case of Ankita being forced to offer services to Ankit is not clear yet,” Director general of police (DGP) Ashok Kumar said.

“No other girl is missing. If there is something more to it, we will dig it out,” he said.
“Something has come up about Pulkit Arya. Will go to depth of everything,” the top cop said.