murfer

Ex-BJP leader's son, two others get life term in Uttarakhand murder case

Uttarakhand receptionist murder: son of ex-BJP leader and two others sentenced to life imprisonment

In a big decision, an Uttarakhand court on Friday found three men guilty of the 2022 murder of a 19-year-old girl who worked as a receptionist at Vanantra Resort in Rishikesh. The court said that Pulkit Arya, the son of a former BJP leader, and his two friends—Saurabh Bhaskar and Ankit Gupta—were responsible for killing the young girl.

This case had shocked the entire state and sparked huge protests. People were angry and came out in large numbers to demand justice for the young woman, who belonged to Pauri district. Many locals even set fire to the resort where she worked.

The court found the three men guilty under several serious sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including:

  • Section 302 (murder),

  • Section 201 (destroying evidence),

  • Section 120B (criminal conspiracy),

  • Section 354A (sexual harassment), and

  • Provisions of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act.

Right now, the court has not announced the sentence. The prosecution is asking for the harshest punishment possible. The victim’s family, especially her mother, is asking for the death penalty. She made a public appeal asking people to continue supporting her and to come to the Kotdwar court to give her strength.

Shocking crime and long fight for justice

The murder happened in September 2022, but the victim was missing for several days before her body was finally found in the Chilla canal near Rishikesh on September 24, 2022. The delay in finding her body added to the anger of people.

According to the police, the three men pushed the girl into a barrage and killed her. At that time, Pulkit Arya was the owner of Vanantra Resort, and his father was a well-known BJP leader. This made the case even more sensitive and high-profile.

A Special Investigation Team (SIT), led by Deputy Inspector General (DIG) P. Renuka Devi, was formed to look into the matter. The investigation revealed some disturbing details. Former workers at the resort said that Arya and Gupta often brought women to the resort and misbehaved with staff members. One woman staff member told the police that they used to beat and abuse workers over small issues.

ALSO READ: Uttarakhand government considers deploying anti-drone systems at Char Dham shrines

ALSO READ: AIIMS Rishikesh doctor booked for distributing sweets a day after Pahalgam attack

The legal proceedings began on January 30, 2023. The prosecution filed a detailed 500-page charge sheet in court. On March 28, 2023, the court began listening to statements from witnesses.

Out of 97 witnesses listed by the SIT, 47 were called to testify. These included the investigating officers and people who had worked at the resort. The hearing went on for nearly two years and eight months.

Now, after a long wait, the court has found all three men guilty. The final sentence is expected to be announced soon. People across the state are watching closely and hoping for strict punishment. The victim’s family wants the culprits to get the death penalty so that it sends a strong message and prevents such crimes in the future.

 


Comment As:

Comment (0)


Loading...