BJP’s Dushyant Gautam moves Delhi HC in Ankita Bhandari murder case, names 11 respondents
In the latest twist to a case that shook Uttarakhand and drew nationwide attention, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national general secretary and Uttarakhand in-charge Dushyant Kumar Gautam has filed a **defamation petition before the Delhi High Court over social media posts and allegations linking him to the 2022 Ankita Bhandari murder case.
Gautam strongly denied all allegations and described the campaign as a “well-plann
ed criminal conspiracy” orchestrated by political opponents to tarnish his reputation and that of his party.
Background: The Ankita Bhandari Murder Case
The Ankita Bhandari case involved the disappearance and brutal death of a 19-year-old receptionist at a resort in Rishikesh in September 2022. According to investigation reports, she was allegedly pressured to provide sexual favours to guests at the resort. Her body was later recovered from the Chilla Canal in Rishikesh after missing for several days.
Three men — Pulkit Arya, Saurabh Bhaskar, and Ankit Gupta — were eventually convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment in May 2025 for her murder, abduction and criminal conspiracy.
While the case sparked widespread public outrage and calls for justice, much of the controversy has stemmed from rumours of a purported “VIP” involvement — a claim that was never part of the official chargesheet.
Legal Move: Petition Filed in Delhi High Court
In his petition before the Delhi High Court, Gautam has named 11 respondents including:
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Actress Urmila Sanawar
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Former BJP MLA Suresh Rathore
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Indian National Congress
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Uttarakhand Pradesh Congress Committee
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Congress leaders including Ganesh Godiyal and Alok Sharma
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Aam Aadmi Party
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Party members and social media handles accused of circulating defamatory content.
The petition, spanning nearly 250 pages, requests an urgent hearing, the removal of defamatory content linking him to the murder, and ₹2 crore in damages for reputational harm.
Gautam’s lawyers — Advocates Simran Barar and Neelmani Guha — have sought court directives to stop further circulation of allegedly false material on platforms like X, Meta, Google, and Instagram.
Defamation Allegations and ‘VIP’ Rumours
The controversy escalated in December 2025 when Urmila Sanawar, who claims to be the estranged wife of former BJP MLA Suresh Rathore, posted videos and an audio recording. The content suggested that Gautam was the unidentified “VIP” allegedly connected to the Bhandari case.
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Following this, opposition parties made similar claims, demanding investigations and even Gautam’s arrest. The Congress called for a CBI probe, arguing political influence was used to conceal involvement — assertions that Gautam and the BJP have consistently rejected.
In the defamation suit, Gautam’s legal team argued that no official investigative body ever named him a suspect and that the spread of such allegations constituted “fake news” causing severe reputational damage.
The petition also mentions that multiple FIRs have been registered against Sanawar and Rathore by Uttarakhand Police for allegedly spreading misinformation related to the Bhandari case.
Political Reactions and Wider Impact
The legal battle has sparked a fresh political storm. The BJP has labeled the allegations as politically motivated, while opposition parties maintain that questions about alleged VIP involvement need to be officially addressed.
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Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami commented that the matter was being politicised but insisted that “no one is being shielded” from investigation.
The case highlights the intersection of criminal justice, social media narratives, and political strategy in high-profile matters. Defamation suits and legal complaints are increasingly common tools in India’s political landscape to counter reputation-based controversies.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: What is the defamation case about?
The defamation petition filed by Dushyant Gautam seeks removal of posts and content linking him to the Ankita Bhandari murder case. He has denied all involvement and claims reputational harm.
Q2: Who are the main respondents in the petition?
The petition names 11 respondents, including actors, former politicians, Congress and AAP leaders, and social media accounts accused of spreading defamatory content.
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Q3: What was the Ankita Bhandari case?
Ankita Bhandari, a 19-year-old receptionist, was murdered in Uttarakhand in 2022. The court later convicted three men for her murder.
Q4: Is Gautam accused by investigative agencies?
No official investigative agency named Gautam in the Ankita Bhandari case. The allegations arose from social media posts, prompting the defamation suit.
Q5: What damages is Gautam seeking?
He is seeking damages of approximately ₹2 crore and an injunction against further defamatory content.
