Personal Profile About Ankita Bhandari
Ankita Bhandari biography looks at her early years in Dobh Srikot, a village in Uttarakhand’s Pauri Garhwal district. She studied in Pauri before enrolling in a hotel management course in Dehradun. Financial problems forced her to leave the course. On 28 August 2022, she joined Vanantra Resort near Rishikesh, where the employer offered her ₹10,000 a month and accommodation.
Ankita Bhandari Case
The Ankita Bhandari case led to life sentences for resort owner Pulkit Arya and employees Saurabh Bhaskar and Ankit Gupta on 30 May 2025. During the trial, the prosecution presented statements from 47 witnesses, WhatsApp messages and CCTV footage. In February 2026, the Central Bureau of Investigation registered a case to examine allegations involving an unidentified VIP. The inquiry continued into October 2026.
Ankita Bhandari Murdered
Ankita Bhandari murdered on 18 September 2022. According to the prosecution, Arya, Bhaskar and Gupta pushed her into the Chilla canal near Rishikesh. Search teams found her body on 24 September. Before her death, she had told a friend about pressure to provide sexual services to guests. She had refused and wanted to leave the resort. Her messages and witness accounts became evidence during the trial.
Ankita Bhandari Father
Ankita Bhandari’s father, Virendra Bhandari, previously worked as a security guard. He moved the family to Pauri and enrolled her in an English-medium school. In August 2022, he accompanied her to Rishikesh when she left for the resort job. After her murder, he called for a CBI investigation into the alleged VIP connection and sought the death penalty for the three convicts.
Ankita Bhandari Mother
Ankita Bhandari mother, Soni Devi, helped support the family through her work at an anganwadi centre. After the May 2025 verdict, she said she wanted the death penalty for her daughter’s killers. She continued protesting alongside her husband and questioned the original investigation. On 15 October 2026, Delhi Police briefly detained both parents following their overnight protest near India Gate.
Ankita Bhandari Age
Ankita Bhandari age at the time of her death was 19. She had completed Class 12 and wanted to continue her education. Her family told reporters she took the receptionist’s job because they faced financial difficulties. She died less than a month after joining the resort.