JCB Driver who Demolished ‘Vanantra’, Testifies in Ankita Bhandari Murder Case

During the court proceedings for the Ankita Bhandari murder case, a JCB driver informed that he was summoned twice on September 23, 2022, to demolish portions of the Vanantra Resort, which was managed by the primary accused, as per legal representatives.

JCB driver asserted that the initial demolition took place under the then sub-divisional magistrate, and subsequently, on the directive of the current Yamkeshwar MLA, Renu Bisht.

The testimony of the witness, Deepak, gains significance amid concerns raised by various quarters regarding the potential destruction of evidence due to the overnight demolition of parts of the resort in Bhogpur, Pauri district.

While providing his statement before Additional District and Sessions Judge Reena Negi, Deepak stated that he operated the JCB owned by Satyendra Singh Rawat. Acting on Rawat’s instructions, he visited Vanantra Resort on September 23, 2022.

Deepak recounted that, following the SDM’s guidance and in the presence of other officials, he demolished the gate and the boundary wall of the resort before departing for Haridwar.

According to Deepak, upon reaching Shivmurti in Haridwar, the personal assistant of Yamkeshwar MLA Renu Bisht contacted him and instructed him to return to the resort with the JCB.

He informed the court that upon his return to the resort in the JCB, MLA Bisht was present, and based on her instructions, he demolished the walls and windows of two rooms. Deepak alleged that the MLA had accommodated him in an adjacent room at the resort that night.

Ankita Bhandari, who served as a receptionist at Vanantra Resort, was allegedly murdered by the resort operator Pulkit Arya, the son of Vinod Arya, and two employees. Her body was discovered in the Chila canal in Rishikesh.

BJP had expelled Vinod Arya from the party following protests triggered by the incident.

In addition to Deepak, the prosecution presented two police officers, Ravindra Singh and Rajveer Singh, stationed at Laxman Jhula police station on the day of the incident, as witnesses.

Advocates representing Ankita’s family, Ajay Pant, and Narendra Gosai, stated that 33 individuals have provided testimony in the case so far.

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) investigating the case has presented 97 witnesses.

The next hearing for the case is scheduled for January 5.

All three accused remain incarcerated in Pauri jail.