In a significant development in the murder case, Ankita Bhandari’s family refused to carry out the last rites as they requested a post-mortem report.
The administration, on the other hand, tried to convince Ankita’s family. “We won’t conduct her last rites until her post-mortem report is given. We saw in her provisional report that she was beaten up and was thrown in a river. But we’re awaiting the final report,” said Ajay Singh Bhandari, brother of Ankita Bhandari.
The SIT stated on Sunday that her Whatsapp chats were also under investigation.
According to sources, a WhatsApp conversation has been prominent in the probe. According to police sources, Ankita is complaining to her buddy in this discussion that the resort’s owner is forcing her to offer the visitors “additional service.” Following the murder of the receptionist, there is a great deal of indignation among the populace.
Ankita’s WhatsApp conversations that have surfaced are being investigated, according to DIG PR Devi, the SIT investigator probing the Ankita Bhandari murder case.
According to a viral chat, it is stated that the guest would receive “additional service” for Rs 10,000. In the WhatsApp message, talk of providing “additional service” in the name of offering spa services at the Vanatara Resort can be seen.
Ankita Bhandari, according to a resort staffer, allegedly asked him to remove her bags from the resort on September 17 after calling him sobbing. Additionally, he acknowledged seeing Ankita with three other people at roughly 3 PM; however, only the other three returned, leaving Ankita behind.
Additionally, he attested that on September 18, at 8 a.m., the owner’s brother, Ankit Arya, arrived and discussed making supper for four people while announcing that he would dine in Ankita’s room. The employee responded by saying that the service men could prepare the meal. However, the resort’s assistant said that Ankit was trying to deceive the employees because Ankita had not yet arrived.
The Vanatara resort in Rishikesh, which is owned by Pulkit Arya, a son of expelled BJP politician Vinod Arya and a suspect in the slaying of Ankita Bhandari, was set on fire by enraged locals earlier on Saturday.
In protest of the horrific murder, locals thronged the Pauri bus station and the streets of neighbouring Uttarakhand districts. In addition, the Pauri District Magistrate’s office was gheraoed by protesters.
Ankita Bhandari, 19, was discovered dead on Saturday in Rishikesh’s Chilla canal. A few days prior, she had been reported missing. The chief minister of Uttarakhand, Pushkar Singh Dhami, gave the directive to form a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to examine the situation.
“The body of our daughter Ankita was recovered this morning. This heartbreaking incident deeply pains my heart,” Dhami tweeted.
Three people, including Pulkit Arya, were arrested on Friday after they confessed to having pushed Ankita into the canal after an altercation.