Shimla: A former Uttarakhand minister and BJP leader was on Saturday expelled from the party after his son was arrested in connection with the murder of a 19-year-old girl.
The body of the teenager, who had been missing for about a week, was recovered early on Saturday from Chilla canal in Rishikesh. Relatives identified the body to be of the missing teenager.
Uttarakhand Police on Friday arrested three persons, including local BJP leader and former state minister Vinod Arya’s son Pulkit Arya, on charges of murdering the 19-year-old who worked as a receptionist at a resort in Rishikesh.
Angry locals vandalized the resort owned by Pulkit and set it on fire.
Watch the video of the resort set on fire postwed by ANI:
WATCH | #AnkitaBhandari murder case: Locals set Vanatara resort in Rishikesh, Uttarakhand on fire.
The resort is owned by BJP leader Vinod Arya’s son Pulkit Arya. Three accused, including Pulkit, have been arrested in connection with the murder case. pic.twitter.com/7Zx0T6HJIB
— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) September 24, 2022
Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh, who had expressed his anguish over the murder, earlier ordered a part of the resort to be demolished.
Dhami also announced the setting up of a SIT, led by DIG police P Renuka Devi, and asked for a speedy investigation.
Pulkit Arya apart, two other staff of the resort — Saurabh Bhaskar (35) and Ankit Gupta (19) — were arrested.
According to police, Bhaskar worked as manager at the resort and Gupta was his assistant.
Pauri Garhwal senior superintendent of police (SSP) Yashwant Singh said that Pulkit had tried to mislead the investigators by filing a missing complaint.
“During the course of investigation, police learnt the accused and the woman had gone to Rishikesh on Sunday. While on their way back, Pulkit and the woman entered into an argument following which the accused threw her into a canal in Chilla,” the SSP said.
Local people protested against BJP MLA Renu Bisht and vandalised her car. The MLA had to be escorted to safety by police.
