Additional District and Sessions Court of Kotdwar gave its verdict on Friday (May 30) in the famous Ankita Bhandari murder case, which has caught attention across the country from September 2022. The resort owner and two employees of Uttarakhand were convicted for the murder of teenager receptionist Ankita Bhandari in 2022. On 30 May 2025, the court of District and Sessions Judge, additional District and Sessions Judge of Kotdwar, gave its verdict under Section 302, 201, 201, 354A of IPC and Section 3 (1) (D) (Ankita Bhandari murder) of the IPC in Criminal Number 1/22, in which the three accused were convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment.
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The details of the punishment are as follows-
1. Pulkit Arya
Section 302 IPC (murder): Rigid life imprisonment and fine of Rs 50,000
Section 201 IPC (Eradicating Evidence): 5 years rigorous imprisonment and fine of Rs 10,000
Section 354A IPC (sexual harassment): 2 years rigorous imprisonment and fine of Rs 10,000
Section 3 (1) (D) ITPA
2. Saurabh Bhaskar and Ankit Gupta
Section 302 IPC: Rigid life imprisonment and fine of Rs 50,000
Section 201 IPC: 5 years rigorous imprisonment and fine of Rs 10,000
Section 3 (1) (D) ITPA: 5 years rigorous imprisonment and fine of Rs 2,000
In addition, the court ordered compensation, an amount of Rs 4 lakh will be paid to the family of victim Ankita Bhandari.
Ankita Bhandari was allegedly murdered by Pulkit Arya on 18 September 2022 with his friends Saurabh Bhaskar and Ankit Gupta. The body of Ankita Bhandari was recovered from the Chilla Canal in Rishikesh on 24 September. She was said to be missing at least six days before her body was found by the authorities. The SIT headed by Deputy Inspector General of Police P Renuka Devi initially investigated the case. Pulkit Arya’s father Vinod Arya was a BJP leader, who was expelled from the party soon after his son’s name surfaced as the main accused in the murder. Ankita’s body was recovered from the Chilla Barrage near the resort a few days after her murder. He was reportedly pushed him into the swamp by his killers.