Daijiworld Media Network - Dehradun

Dehradun, Dec 27: BJP national general secretary and Uttarakhand state in-charge Dushyant Gautam on Friday strongly denied allegations linking him to the 2022 Ankita Bhandari murder case, asserting that honesty and integrity have defined his political and social life.

Gautam’s statement came after fresh allegations surfaced following claims by Urmila Sanawar, wife of former BJP MLA Suresh Rathore, who alleged that a senior leader named “Gattu” was involved. An audio clip purportedly naming Gautam was released, which Rathore later claimed was AI-generated.

In a video message, Gautam said he had sought the removal of defamatory content circulating online and written to the Home Secretary seeking an investigation into the origin of the clip. “If there is evidence for even a single allegation against me, I will resign from public life,” he said, adding that dragging the victim’s name repeatedly was an insult to women.

The controversy has triggered political reactions, with Congress demanding a CBI probe, while BJP leaders termed the allegations an attempt to defame the party. The Ankita Bhandari murder had shocked Uttarakhand in 2022, and three accused were sentenced to life imprisonment earlier this year.