The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) team investigating the Ankita Bhandari murder case reached the residence of Urmila Sanawar, the alleged wife of former BJP MLA Suresh Rathore, in Uttar Pradesh’s Saharanpur on Sunday.

A four-member CBI team, including a woman officer, reached Sanawar’s residence to question her regarding the high-profile case.

Earlier this week, Sanawar had participated in a press conference in New Delhi, alongside Bhandari’s parents.

Sanawar, through a video message, had also demanded that the CBI must interrogate her in the presence of the media since the investigation is not happening under the watch of a sitting Supreme Court judge.

This comes a day after the CBI questioned former BJP MLA Rathore at the Shivalik Guest House in Uttarakhand’s Haridwar.

The CBI took over the probe into the Ankita Bhandari murder case in February this year. Its Delhi-based Special Crime Branch had registered a case against an “unknown VIP” in connection with the matter.

The case had returned to the spotlight early this year after viral audio clips and videos surfaced involving Sanawar.

During a Facebook Live session, Sanawar made references to the alleged involvement of a VIP in the murder, triggering fresh controversy and public debate.

These developments led to heightened political tensions, with Opposition parties and several organisations renewing demands for a CBI enquiry into the case.

Responding to the growing pressure and to address public concerns, the Uttarakhand government moved swiftly to ensure transparency. On January 9, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami formally recommended a CBI investigation.

The murder of Bhandari, a 19-year-old receptionist, sparked widespread outrage across Uttarakhand in 2022. She was working as a receptionist at the Vanantra Resort when she was murdered on September 18, 2022. Her body was dumped in the Chilla Shakti Canal and recovered nearly a week later.

Following an extensive investigation by a Special Investigation Team, a 500-page charge sheet was filed in the case, naming 97 witnesses, out of whom 47 testified before the court.

The prime accused, Pulkit Arya, the owner of Vanantra Resort, along with co-accused Saurabh Bhaskar and Ankit Gupta, were convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment. Arya was found guilty on multiple serious charges, including murder, tampering with evidence, harassment, and immoral trafficking.

Meanwhile, several activists and the Congress have been organising protests in Uttarakhand and Delhi over the appointment of BJP leader Dushyant Gautam as the Governor of Sikkim.

Earlier this week, Bhandari’s parents staged a sit-in at India Gate, demanding a stop to Gautam’s appointment as Governor. Later, along with Garhwal BJP MP Anil Baluni, they met the CBI officials.

Bhandari’s parents have also demanded that the government put the appointment on hold till the CBI probe is underway. They have urged the government to work towards ensuring that all those guilty of their daughter’s murder face strict punishment.

Five people were killed and five others critically injured in two separate road accidents in West Burdwan district Durgapur on Sunday, police said.

The two accidents took place on National Highway 19 in Durgapur.

DCP, East, of Asansol-Durgapur Police Commissionerate, Raspreet Singh said, “Five people have died so far in two accidents in Durgapur this morning. Several have been admitted to the hospital. They are undergoing treatment.”

In the first incident, a bike hit the back of a truck at high speed, while in the second incident, a four-wheeler rammed into a bus from the rear.

According to the police, in the first case, a bike, being ridden by two young men and a woman, was heading towards Piala from the direction of Bhiringi intersection in Durgapur, when the speeding two-wheeler lost control and hit the back of a truck in front of it.

The impact of the incident was so great that all three riders on the bike were thrown in different directions. They were rescued with serious injuries and taken to Durgapur Sub-district Hospital. However, they died at the hospital.

Locals alleged that the bike was coming so fast that its front wheel fused with the back of the truck. Later, the police removed the bike and the truck by pulling them apart with a crane. The speed of the bike at the time of the accident and whether the three riders were drunk are being investigated. The bodies of the three have been sent for autopsy.

In the other incident, a four-wheeler hit the back of a bus while entering the Andal crossing service road on National Highway 19 from Durgapur to Asansol. According to the police, there were seven people in the car, including the driver. Two died on the spot, and the remaining five were rescued and taken to Bidhannagar Hospital in critical condition. It is learnt that the passengers were returning from a cultural event.

The police have started an investigation to find out how the car hit the back of the bus and how the driver lost control of the car.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah will visit Punjab on October 20, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ravneet Singh Bittu announced on Sunday.

This will be HM Shah’s second visit in 20 days. He last visited Punjab on September 30 to address an anti-drug rally in Jalandhar.

Announcing the visit in a post on X, Bittu stated that at a time when Punjab is grappling with a serious drug problem, there is a need for decisive action, strong leadership, and firm determination to safeguard the youth and the future of the state.

“Punjab welcomes Hon’ble Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah Ji on his visit to Punjab on 20th October. At a time when Punjab is battling the grave menace of drugs, we need decisive action, strong leadership and a firm resolve to secure our youth and our future,” the former Union Minister said.

Taking aim at the Punjab government over the growing drug menace in the state, Bittu said, “The AAP Govt in Punjab has lost his mandate much before his completion of term. I appeal to every Punjabi to support Amit Shah Ji and have faith in our collective mission to make Punjab drug-free, once and for all.”

“Let us unite to save Punjab’s youth and reclaim Punjab’s future!” he added.

HM Shah’s visit comes at a time when political parties are gearing up for the 2027 Assembly elections in Punjab. It is likely that during his visit, he will focus on strengthening the BJP and discussing preparations for the polls.

There is also a possibility that the Home Minister might visit Mansa to meet the family members of anti-drug activist Parwinder Singh Jhota.

Earlier this week, HM Shah raised concerns over the alleged rise in drug trafficking, gangsterism and organised crime in Punjab, questioning the Bhagwant Mann-led government over the safety of the state’s residents.

In a post on social media platform X in Hindi, he said recent incidents in Dirba and Mansa had raised serious questions about the law and order situation in the state.

HM Shah further said that the Home Ministry will also seek responses from the Punjab government on both these incidents.

During his September 30 rally, the Home Minister promised to make Punjab free of the illicit ‘chitta’ (synthetic drug) trade before December 31, 2029, saying the BJP would contest the next Assembly elections in the state primarily on the issue of a drug-free Punjab.

He urged the mothers and the youth of Punjab to extend support to the BJP in the next Assembly elections by voting for the lotus symbol, promising to free the state from the illicit drug trade.