The postmortem report in Ankita Bhandari murder case has revealed that the 19 year-old receptionist died by drowning and injury marks have also been found on her body. The cause of injury is yet to be ascertained which will come to the fore after the complete postmortem report is released. 


Bhandari’s body was recovered from Chilla canal in Rishikesh on Saturday after she was reported missing a few days ago. Three persons including Pulit Arya — son of BJP leader Vinod Arya and owner of Vantara resort where Bhandari worked as receptionist — were arrested after they confessed to have pushed Bhandari into the water body following an altercation. Following the incident, Vinod Arya was expelled from the party. 


Meanwhile the Special Investigation Team — constituted on the orders of CM Pushkar Singh Dhami — probing the matter said that WhatsApp chats were also being investigated in this case. 


As per news agency ANI citing police sources, a WhatsApp chat has surfaced where Ankita told her friends that the resort owner is pressuring her to provide “extra services” to the guests. 


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The SIT In-charge of Ankita Bhandari murder case, DIG PR Devi, told ANI that Ankita's WhatsApp chats that have surfaced are also being probed. 


As per a viral chat, it is alleged that it was being said that the guest would get 'extra service' and Rs 10,000. In the WhatsApp chat, there is talk of providing 'extra service' in the name of providing spa treatment at the Vanatara Resort.


The receptionist’s murder has triggered anger among the locals in Pauri who jammed the bus station and in other parts of Uttarakhand as well who took to streets demanding action against accused. Protestors had gathered at the District Magistrate’s office in Pauri while shops were shut in Srinagar in protest. 


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On Friday Uttarakhand authorities had also bulldozed portions at the Vanatara Resort owned by Pulkit, where Ankita Bhandari was working as a receptionist. 


CM Dhami said that district magistrates have been ordered to take action against all resorts inside Uttarakhand which have illegal construction.