The Congress on Saturday intensified its attack on the BJP-led Uttarakhand government over the 2022 Ankita Bhandari murder case, demanding the resignation of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. The party accused the state government of failing to deliver justice even three years after the crime, claiming that public trust has eroded due to alleged delays, lapses, and political interference in the investigation.

The demand comes a day after Chief Minister Dhami approved a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the case, following a meeting with Ankita’s parents amid renewed protests across Uttarakhand. Congress leaders alleged that the approval came only after sustained public pressure and questioned why such a decision was delayed for years despite widespread outrage and repeated demands.

Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, All India Mahila Congress president Alka Lamba termed the case a “grave failure of governance.” She recalled that Ankita Bhandari, who worked at a resort owned by a BJP leader, was allegedly pressured to provide unethical services to VIP guests shortly after joining her job in September 2022. After refusing, she was murdered and her body was later recovered from a canal.

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Lamba alleged that from September 19 to 22, 2022, authorities merely registered a missing person’s complaint, and crucial time was lost. She further accused the state government of destroying evidence by deploying a bulldozer at the resort on September 23, allegedly on the instructions of the Chief Minister, even before Ankita’s body was recovered. According to her, this raised serious questions about intent and accountability.

While three accused were later arrested and sentenced to life imprisonment following an SIT probe, Congress maintained that the identity of the alleged “VIP” involved has never been disclosed. Lamba questioned why the SIT failed to reveal whether any influential individuals were implicated, and demanded an independent investigation into the VIP angle, action against those responsible for destroying evidence, and accountability for those providing political protection.

Other Congress leaders echoed the demand for Dhami’s resignation, with party spokespersons and the Uttarakhand unit questioning the transparency of the newly announced CBI probe. They asked why the terms of reference sent to the Centre had not been made public and insisted that the CBI conclude the investigation within six months without political pressure. The party vowed to continue its agitation, stating that justice for Ankita Bhandari is a matter of dignity, women’s safety, and institutional integrity in Uttarakhand.

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