Former BJP MLA Suresh Rathore was apprehended in connection with an investigation into a viral audio-video clip linked to the Ankita Bhandari murder case, police said on Monday. Police said the clip allegedly named a "VIP" in connection with the matter.
According to Superintendent of Police (City) Pramod Kumar, Rathore was picked up from his office in Buggawala, Haridwar. He was then brought to Dalanwala police station in Dehradun, where he was formally arrested.
The arrest comes days after Rathore held a press conference and said the Uttarakhand High Court had quashed two of the four FIRs registered against him at Bahadrabad and Jhabrera police stations.
The FIRs were lodged over the alleged circulation of objectionable audio and video clips related to the case on social media platforms. Rathore had maintained that investigations in the other two cases, registered at Dalanwala and Nehru Colony police stations, were still in progress. He had also said he was fully cooperating with the investigating agencies.
On June 4, the Uttarakhand High Court set aside two of the four FIRs filed against Rathore. However, Justice Rakesh Thapliyal allowed the police to continue investigations in the remaining two cases.
The complainants, Dushyant Gautam and Aarti Gaur, alleged that the circulated content was intended to damage their reputation and public image.
Gautam, who is BJP's national general secretary and Uttarakhand in-charge, was allegedly identified by Rathore as the "VIP" mentioned in the clips. Speaking to mediapersons in Haridwar on Friday, Rathore denied sharing any audio or video clips on social media or making remarks against senior BJP leaders and the chief minister.
He said if any of his statements had hurt anyone, he regretted it. Rathore also alleged that efforts were being made to undermine his political career. On Saturday, state minister Deshraj Karnwal termed Rathore's claims about the High Court relief as "misleading" during a press conference.
Ankita Bhandari, a 19-year-old receptionist at a resort in Pauri district, had gone missing in September 2022 and was later found dead. The case triggered massive protests across Uttarakhand. Three people, including the resort owner, were arrested and later convicted for her murder.
Also read: BJP leader wants video linking him to Ankita murder removed
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