Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Friday, January 9, 2026, officially recommended a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the high-profile Ankita Bhandari murder case. This significant development follows persistent demands from the victim's parents and widespread public protests across the state, which have intensified recently. Ankita Bhandari, a 19-year-old receptionist at the Vanantra Resort in Rishikesh, was tragically murdered in September 2022. The case gained national attention due to the alleged involvement of politically influential individuals and the contentious 'VIP angle'. The resort owner, Pulkit Arya (son of an expelled BJP leader), and two of his employees, Ankit Gupta and Saurabh Bhaskar, were arrested and subsequently convicted, receiving life imprisonment from a sessions court in Kotdwar in May 2025. Despite the convictions, public anger has simmered over allegations that a powerful 'VIP' involved in the case, for whom Bhandari was reportedly pressured to provide 'special services,' has not been identified or prosecuted. Fresh allegations by actress Urmila Sanawar, naming a senior State BJP leader, further fueled the recent wave of protests and renewed calls for a CBI investigation. While local police had earlier stated no VIP involvement was found, the CM's decision to recommend a CBI probe aims to address public sentiment and ensure a transparent investigation, upholding the government's commitment to justice.