‘VIP’ allegations in Ankita Bhandari murder: BJP’s Dushyant Gautam files defamation case against ex-MLA’s wife, Congress

BJP general secretary Dushyant Gautam. (X/@dushyanttgautam)

BJP national general secretary Dushyant Gautam has filed a defamation petition against the Congress, the Aam Aadmi Party, actress Urmila Sanawar, and others, including various X account holders, for allegedly accusing him of being involved in the Ankita Bhandari murder case.

Gautam claimed that Sanawar’s social media posts falsely portrayed him as the “VIP” in the Ankita Bhandari case. She had uploaded a purported call recording of her and her husband, former BJP MLA Suresh Rathore, in which Gautam is allegedly linked to the case.

In 2022, 19-year-old Bhandari was killed by Pulkit Arya, the manager of the resort where she worked as a receptionist, allegedly for refusing to render sexual favours to guests. Following the incident, allegations were rife that the guest was a “VIP”. In late December, Sanawar uploaded videos and audio clips linking Gautam’s name with this “VIP”.

The Congress and other Opposition parties later accused Gautam of being involved in the case, demanding a CBI probe into the matter.

Gautam’s plea accuses the Congress’s Uttarakhand chief Ganesh Godiyal, the AAP, X handles PM Nehru and Mohitlaws, and platforms such as Meta, Google, and X of defamation. “Thereafter, multiple newspapers, digital media and social media showed (Gautam) as the alleged VIP,” the plea said.

He prayed that a decree be passed in his favour that directs the defendants to pay damages to the tune of Rs 2 crore for making defamatory statements.

People hold a candlelight march in Dehradun, seeking justice for Ankita Bhandari whose body was found in a canal in Rishikesh on September 24, 2022.

He claimed that despite FIRs and clarification by the plaintiff, the defendants continue to post, share, promote “the publications without any clarification, correction, withdrawal or apology, thereby giving the cause of action a continuing and aggravated character as long as such content remains online”. He has also alleged that Sanawar has a “chequered criminal antecedent, which goes to the root of her credibility and bona fides”.

Apart from the FIRs registered against Sanawar and Rathore in connection with the case, Gautam on Monday also filed a complaint at Dalanwala police station against the duo as well as the Congress and AAP under sections 66E and 66D of the IT Act and defamation under BNS, among others. “These false audio and video clips are being deliberately spread through social media platforms with the intention of defaming me, damaging the image of the Bharatiya Janata Party and other senior dignitaries, provoking the public, disturbing peace in the state and the country, and creating unrest and disorder,” he said in the complaint.