New Delhi: A Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) team on Saturday visited the residence of former Uttarakhand MLA Suresh Rathore in connection with the Ankita Bhandari case.
The development comes a day after Ankita Bhandari’s parents, accompanied by MP Anil Baluni, met the CBI Director in Delhi.
On Friday, parents of Ankita Bhandari met with senior officials at Bureau headquarters and provided information regarding various aspects of the case.
The CBI officials assured them that the investigation would be conducted in a fair and impartial manner, with a thorough examination of every aspect of the case.
This comes amid the row over the alleged involvement of a 'VIP' in the murder case, which has escalated following the appointment of former BJP Uttarakhand in-charge Dushyant Gautam as the Governor of Sikkim.
Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) (Crime and Law & Order), Uttarakhand, V Murugesan, on Thursday said police acted promptly in the Ankita Bhandari murder case and arrested all three accused within 24 hours of the incident.
"Regarding the tragic incident involving the late Ankita Bhandari, who was employed at the Vantara Resort, located within the jurisdiction of the Laxman Jhula Police Station, the police took immediate action and arrested three individuals within 24 hours; they are still in jail," Murugesan said while briefing the media on the investigation of the case at police headquarters in Dehradun.
The ADG said, "Special Investigation Team (SIT) was constituted immediately on the directions of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. A woman IPS officer of DIG rank was appointed to head the SIT to ensure a thorough and effective investigation.”
Ankita Bhandari's parents staged a sit-in at the India Gate in Delhi to oppose the appointment of Dushyant Kumar Gautam until the ongoing CBI probe is fully concluded.
The parents were detained by the police and later released from Tilak Marg Police Station.
Meanwhile, the National Students' Union of India (NSUI) on Saturday organised a candle march here demanding justice for Ankita Bhandari and questioned the appointment of a person with a pending investigation as Sikkim Governor.
Amid heavy police deployment, the protest march was led by NSUI National President Vinod Jakhar.
Raising concerns over the appointment of a person -- against whom an investigation is still underway -- as Governor of Sikkim, Jakhar said, "The way the BJP speaks about 'Nari Vandan', the daughters of this country are watching, and the entire country is witnessing how you are appointing someone as a Governor when an investigation against him is still underway."
He said the demand for justice for Ankita BhandarI should not be sidelined and called for accountability from those in positions of power.
The Congress' student wing said the candle march, which began from its national office, was aimed at demanding a transparent process and justice for the victim.
(With inputs from PTI & ANI)