The Uttarakhand High Court on Thursday partially cleared former legislator Suresh Rathore by quashing two of four police complaints filed against him for sharing controversial audio and video recordings linked to the Ankita Bhandari murder investigation.
A single-judge bench of Justice Rakesh Thapliyal ruled that police investigations must continue into the remaining two complaints, which were registered in Dehradun.
Double Jeopardy Clause Cited in Haridwar Dismissals
The court dismissed two First Information Reports (FIRs) filed against Rathore in Haridwar district at the Bahadrabad and Jhabreda police stations. Justice Thapliyal explained that these complaints contained allegations identical to a case already active in Dehradun.
Furthermore, the bench noted that the individuals who initiated the Haridwar cases were not the primary victims. Because the actual victim had already filed a complaint, the court determined that the Haridwar filings constituted repetitive cases, invoking the legal principle of double jeopardy to quash them.
Dehradun Inquiries Concerning Defamation to Proceed
Conversely, the High Court refused to dismiss the two complaints registered at the Dalanwala police station in Dehradun. Those cases were initiated by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National General Secretary Dushyant Gautam and another individual, Aarti Gaur.
The court ruled that these two complaints initially show evidence of offenses that require a thorough police investigation. Justice Thapliyal observed that linking a person to a violent crime on social media platforms to harm their reputation is a serious matter. He added that anyone holding evidence related to a crime should hand it over to the appropriate legal authorities instead of sharing it online to defame others.
According to the court, investigating agencies must be allowed to determine whether the media clips were shared to fulfill political goals, specific motives, or as part of a wider coordinated conspiracy.
Background and Security Measures
The controversy began when Rathore allegedly shared media files identifying Gautam, who serves as the BJP Uttarakhand in-charge, as a highly placed individual associated with the Bhandari case. Gaur was also drawn into the matter due to claims made by Urmila Sanawar, who states she is Rathore’s second wife. Rathore had petitioned the court to throw out all four complaints, calling them groundless and politically driven.
As part of the ruling, the High Court gave Gautam and Gaur the authority to contact the Director General of Police and local Senior Superintendents of Police if they have safety concerns. The police have been ordered to evaluate any security threats and provide protection if necessary.
The underlying case involves Ankita Bhandari, a 19-year-old receptionist at the Vanantra Resort in Pauri district, who was murdered in September 2022. The resort’s owner, Pulkit Arya, alongside employees Saurabh Bhaskar and Ankit Gupta, were recently handed rigorous life sentences for her murder.
