Uttarakhand police on the lookout for TV actress who named BJP leader in Ankita Bhandari murder case

The Uttarakhand police is on the lookout for a woman and TV actress who named BJP national general secretary and the party’s Uttarakhand in-charge, Dushyant, in the 2023 Ankita Bhandari murder case. The woman, who claims to be the wife of former BJP legislator Suresh Rathore, failed to appear before the police to record her statement during the course of the investigation.

Haridwar-based actress Urmila Sanawar is being sought by the Uttarakhand police after failing to appear despite notices issued to her in connection with FIRs registered against her at various police stations.

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Haridwar SSP Parmendra Singh Dobhal said that teams are being sent to different locations within the state and outside to trace Urmila Sanawar. According to the SSP, two separate teams of Haridwar Police reached Saharanpur on Thursday and pasted notices at her residence, asking her to appear and record her statements. Police stated that if she fails to appear at the three police stations where FIRs were filed within the stipulated time, proceedings for her arrest her will be initiated.

Dobhal added that notices were issued to Urmila as part of probes at Jwalapur Kotwali and Jhabrera police stations. Earlier, a similar notice had been sent in another case registered at Bahadrabad police station, but she did not join the investigation.

On the condition of anonymity, police officials said that Urmila’s repeated failure to appear, despite three notices, has now become a serious matter, resulting in the involvement of multiple law enforcement agencies. Officials said this is due to the gravity of the matter.

Meanwhile, the Uttarakhand Special Task Force (STF) has also been directed by the Home Department to search for Urmila. STF SSP Navneet Bhullar has been directed to expedite the search at the earliest.

Notably, the political landscape of Uttarakhand was thrown into turmoil following the release of an audio clip involving expelled former BJP MLA Suresh Rathore and actress Urmila Sanawar, who claims to be his wife. The controversy deepened after the name of the BJP state in-charge, Dushyant Gautam, surfaced in connection with the September 2023 Ankita Bhandari murder case in the audio clip featuring Urmila and Rathore.

Dushyant has dismissed the mention of his name in the recording as malicious, calling it an attempt to tarnish his political and social image. Ankita Bhandari, a 19-year old receptionist, was allegedly murdered at a Rishikesh resort by its owner and two others after she refused their demand to provide ‘extra service’ to a VIP guest the night before she went missing.

Police began their probe after Dharmendra Kumar, president of the Shiromani Guru Ravidas Vishwa Mahapeeth, lodged an FIR against Urmila Sanawar and Suresh Rathore at the Bahadrabad police station. A notice was also issued to Rathore. Police said that Urmila Sanawar would face arrest within the next two days if she continues to evade notices.