The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has summoned Uttarakhand-based journalist Ashutosh Negi, a petitioner seeking justice in the Ankita Bhandari murder case, to appear at its headquarters in Delhi for questioning.
Negi, editor of Jago Uttarakhand, was asked to appear on Tuesday. The CBI stated in its summons that there were “reasonable grounds” to question him to establish the facts and circumstances of the case.
Negi described the summons as harassment, alleging that investigators were questioning those seeking justice rather than focusing on the influential individuals allegedly linked to the case. He confirmed that he had reached Delhi and would appear before the agency.
Negi has been pursuing a CBI investigation into the murder since 2022. He was arrested by Uttarakhand Police in March 2024 over his reporting on the case and was subsequently granted bail.
Ankita Bhandari, 19, worked at the Vanantra resort in Pauri Garhwal. She went missing on September 18, 2022, within weeks of joining the job, and her body was recovered from a canal days later. Her murder triggered widespread protests across Uttarakhand.
The demand for a deeper investigation intensified following the emergence of an audio recording released by actress Urmila Sanawar, who claims to be the wife of former BJP MLA Suresh Rathore. The recording allegedly refers to the involvement of a BJP leader in the case, prompting renewed demands for an investigation into the alleged VIP angle.
The Uttarakhand government ordered a CBI probe in January 2026 amid continued public pressure. Before the central agency took over, state police arrested three accused — Pulkit Arya, Saurabh Bhaskar and Ankit Gupta. On May 30, 2025, a court in Kotdwar convicted all three and sentenced them to rigorous life imprisonment.
The CBI has since begun questioning individuals connected to the case as it investigates the allegations, including the alleged involvement of a VIP.
