Actor linked to Ankit Bhandari murder case arrested for Rs 5 crore extortion bid

Urmila Sanawar has been accused of making objectionable and defamatory remarks against ex-BJP MLA Suresh Rathore's daughter. The complainant also alleged that the actor demanded the transfer of a property, as well as Rs 5 crore.

In Short

• Urmila Sanawar arrested over alleged defamatory remarks and threats
• She 'demanded' Rs 5 crore, property transfer from ex-BJP MLA's daughter
• She had released purported audio clips linked to Ankita Bhandari's murder

Actor Urmila Sanawar, who had released purported audio clips linked to the 2022 Ankita Bhandari murder case, was arrested by Uttarakhand Police in Uttar Pradesh’s Saharanpur following an FIR registered on a complaint by the daughter of former BJP MLA Suresh Rathore.

She has been accused of making objectionable and defamatory remarks against the complainant on social media, demanding the transfer of a property, as well as Rs 5 crore.

She allegedly threatened to kill the complainant as well. Police said the arrest was made within nearly 12 hours of the case being registered in Haridwar.

Based on the complaint received by Rathore's daughter, the police invoked Sections 308(5), 308(7), 79, 356(3) and 356(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with Sections 4 and 10 of the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act against Sanawar.

Following the registration of the case, a police team launched a search for the actress, eventually taking her into custody from a house in Saharanpur.

Police also claimed to have recovered the mobile phone used to make the alleged threats and extortion demands.

ARREST AFTER HEARING IN AUDIO CLIPS CASE

Notably, Sanawar's arrest came two days after she and Rathore gave their consent before a CBI court in Dehradun to undergo narco-analysis test in connection with the murder of Ankita Bhandari, who used to work as a receptionist at the Vanantra Resort in Rishikesh.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had issued notices to the two over viral audio clips that allegedly refer to a "VIP" link to the murder.

Sanawar had released an audio recording on social media in December last year, claiming that it captured conversations with Rathore and pointed to the alleged involvement of a "powerful" figure in the crime.

The CBI is investigating the authenticity of the audio clips. Sanawar also claims to be the wife of Rathore, but the politician has denied this.

Recently-appointed Sikkim Governor Dushyant Gautam is being alleged to be the VIP involved in the murder. He has rejected the allegations.

After her court appearance, Sanawar said, "I have given my consent for the narco test as I have nothing to lose. I will ensure that Ankita gets justice. I neither have anyone sponsoring me nor do I have anything to do with the state government. I have kept a condition that media must be given access to my narco-analysis test so that details are available to all."

She also demanded that a narco-test be conducted on Gautam.

After Ankita's murder, resort owner Pulkit Arya, son of former BJP leader Vinod Arya, and two associates were found guilty in the case and sentenced to life imprisonment.

- Ends
(Based on inputs from Rahul Kumar, with additional inputs from PTI)