Court orders narco, polygraph tests of actor in Ankita Bhandari murder case

Actress Urmila Sanawar has given her voluntary consent to a narco-analysis and polygraph test in connection with the Ankita Bhandari murder case investigation. File | Photo credit: PTI

A special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court in Dehradun on Friday (Nov 13, 2026) approved narcotics and polygraph tests for TV actress Urmila Sanawar in connection with the 2022 Ankita Bhandari murder.

Ms Sanawar’s lawyer, Shivani Tomar, told the media that her client had consented to both tests and that her statement had been recorded in court. She added that the tests will be conducted in Gujarat. Ms. Sanawar’s medical examination is likely to be done by the third week of November, after which the test schedule will be confirmed.

Ms Sanawar had earlier appeared before a court in Dehradun on October 26 after giving her consent to undergo tests.

‘derogatory remarks’

She was arrested in Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh on October 25 in connection with a separate case. A day later, a fresh FIR was registered against her in Dehradun for allegedly making defamatory remarks against Sikkim Governor Dushyant Kumar Gautam and other BJP leaders.

She was subsequently granted bail by a Haridwar court in a separate defamation and extortion case.

Ms. Bhandari, a receptionist at Vanantra Resort in Uttarakhand’s Pauri district, was murdered in September 2022 by resort owner Pulkit Arya, son of a former BJP leader, and his two aides. All three were convicted and sentenced to life in prison in 2025.

The case attracted widespread attention due to allegations that Ms Bhandari was killed after she refused to provide “special services” to a VIP expected to visit the resort this week. Her parents claimed that Mr. Gautam was the VIP in question and that his political influence prevented his name from being included in the investigation.

Ms. Sanawar also claimed to have learned about the alleged involvement of a politically influential VIP in the murder. The CBI has issued notices to her and former BJP MLA Suresh Rathore in connection with an audio recording referring to an alleged VIP connection. Both agreed to undergo drug and lie detector tests in October.

Mr Gautam has denied the allegations and earlier this year filed a defamation case in the Delhi High Court against several individuals, including the Uttarakhand Congress.

The case was handed over to the CBI in February this year.

Published – 13 Nov 2026 21:52 IST