AAP’s fiery spokesperson Alka Lamba pulled no punches today, claiming the CBI takeover of the Ankita Bhandari murder probe owes everything to a massive public uprising against the Uttarakhand government’s inaction. The 2022 slaying of the young hotel receptionist grabbed national headlines, exposing alleged nepotism and cover-ups linked to BJP heavyweights.
Details of the horrific crime paint a grim picture: Ankita, employed at Vanantara Resort near Rishikesh, reportedly clashed with management over ‘sex-for-favor’ demands. Days later, she vanished, her body later recovered from the Chilla canal. Accusations flew thick and fast against Pulkit Arya, the resort’s owner and son of a BJP ex-minister, along with two employees. Protests swelled from local vigils to statewide marches, with women-led groups at the forefront demanding transparency.
Speaking to reporters, Lamba hailed the agitators as true heroes. ‘Had it not been for the jan andolan, this file would still be gathering dust in some police station,’ she asserted. She lambasted Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami for resisting CBI involvement until the high court intervened amid mounting pressure. The transfer, she noted, came after over a year of public clamor, including dharnas and memoranda to the Governor.
The political angle sharpened as Lamba accused the ruling party of protecting its own. ‘From day one, there were attempts to dilute the probe,’ she charged, referencing claims of destroyed CCTV footage and coerced witness statements. Now under CBI scrutiny, the case has seen renewed momentum, with the agency questioning key figures and scrutinizing financial trails at the resort.
As investigations progress, Lamba called for swift justice to deter similar atrocities. Ankita’s case has become a symbol of resistance against power abuses, inspiring solidarity campaigns nationwide. Her statement reinforces AAP’s narrative of being the people’s voice, contrasting it with what she termed the BJP’s ‘elite shield.’ With elections looming, this could ripple through Uttarakhand’s political landscape, reminding leaders that public fury can’t be ignored forever.