Fri Dec 26 04:02:57 UTC 2025: News Article:

BJP Leader Seeks Removal of Social Media Content Linking Him to Ankita Bhandari Murder

Dehradun, December 26, 2025 – Dushyant Kumar Gautam, a prominent BJP leader and party affairs in-charge in Uttarakhand, has formally requested the state government to intervene and remove audio and video content circulating on social media that implicates him in the 2022 Ankita Bhandari murder case.

In a letter addressed to Uttarakhand Home Secretary Shailesh Bagoli on Thursday, Gautam alleged that the content is fabricated and part of a malicious campaign to tarnish his reputation. He submitted a list of social media platforms and news channels he claims are spreading “false and malicious allegations.”

The controversy originated from a viral video and alleged audio recording featuring Urmila Sanawar, who claims to be the wife of former MLA Suresh Rathore. In the video, Sanawar alleged that a person nicknamed “Gattu” was involved in Ankita Bhandari’s murder. Ankita Bhandari, a receptionist at a resort, was tragically murdered in 2022 after she refused to provide sexual favors to guests.

Gautam, in his statement, characterized the audio recording as “fake and fabricated” and accused “unscrupulous criminal elements” of circulating it. The Congress party has seized on the new allegations and is demanding a CBI inquiry supervised by a sitting or retired Supreme Court judge. The BJP has responded by questioning Sanawar’s credibility, labeling her as a woman involved in “questionable social activities.” Rathore previously dismissed the video as AI-generated.

Summary:

BJP leader Dushyant Kumar Gautam has requested the Uttarakhand government to remove social media content that implicates him in the Ankita Bhandari murder case. He claims the content is fabricated and defamatory. The controversy stems from a viral video by a woman claiming a person nicknamed “Gattu” was involved in the murder. The Congress party is demanding a CBI inquiry, while the BJP questions the woman’s credibility.

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