A CBI court in Dehradun has ordered narco-analysis and polygraph tests for television actor Urmila Sanawar, who alleged that a powerful “VIP” was involved in the 2022 murder of Rishikesh resort receptionist Ankita Bhandari.

Dehradun, November 13, 2026

A special CBI court in Dehradun on Friday ordered television actor Urmila Sanawar to undergo narco-analysis, popularly called the “truth serum” test, along with a polygraph examination. The order marks a major new turn in the Ankita Bhandari murder case, which has shaken Uttarakhand and kept the country’s attention for more than four years.

Sanawar has publicly alleged that a “VIP” played a role in the killing of Bhandari, a 19-year-old receptionist at the Vanantra Resort in Rishikesh. She was murdered on September 18, 2022. The tests are meant to help investigators establish whether the claims behind that allegation can be verified.

Where and when will the tests be held?

The tests will take place in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, where the forensic facility is located. No date has been fixed yet. Sanawar’s lawyer, advocate Shivani Tomar, said a medical examination is expected by the third week of November. The narco-analysis date will be confirmed only after she is declared medically fit.

Former BJP MLA Suresh Rathore, the other person at the centre of the “VIP” controversy, had also consented to the same test.

How the ‘VIP’ controversy began

The case itself is long settled in court. Resort owner Pulkit Arya, son of a former BJP leader, and his two employees, Saurabh Bhaskar and Ankit Gupta, were convicted of Bhandari’s murder and sentenced to life imprisonment. Her body had been recovered from the Chilla canal in Rishikesh on September 24, 2022, after she was missing for about six days.

The “VIP” question, however, never went away. Soon after the murder, investigators spoke of a “presidential suite” at the resort reserved for special guests, and Bhandari’s family and many citizens alleged that she was pressured to provide “special services” to a VIP. In 2022, police said she had been killed for refusing “extra service” to a VIP. They said the identity of that person was never established in the court proceedings.

The issue returned to the headlines this year when Sanawar released an audio recording on social media. She said it captured her conversations with Rathore and pointed to the role of a powerful figure in the murder. The CBI issued notices to both Sanawar and Rathore regarding the clip and is examining its authenticity.

The name that sparked a political storm

Sanawar’s allegations have been linked to Dushyant Gautam, the recently appointed Governor of Sikkim. Gautam has categorically denied any involvement and has initiated defamation proceedings. A court, finding a prima facie case of defamation, restrained the defendants from posting or circulating material suggesting that he is the “VIP” in the Ankita case, and ordered specified content removed within 24 hours.

The matter has become politically charged. Opposition leaders have attacked the central government over the Governor’s appointment. Bhandari’s parents, who have long demanded a full investigation of the “VIP angle,” were detained by police during a sit-in at Rajghat in Delhi, which drew sharp criticism from the opposition. It must be emphasised that the allegations against the Governor remain unproven. The CBI has not publicly confirmed any role for him.

Sanawar’s claims and the CBI’s move

Sanawar has said she agreed to the test because she has “nothing to lose.” She has also alleged an attempt to dissuade her from undergoing it, claiming she was offered an SUV and Rs 25 lakh to stay away from the test, and she has spoken of a wider conspiracy. These claims have not been verified, and the person she named has not been proven to have made any such offer.

The CBI’s activity has picked up pace in recent weeks. The agency questioned Rathore in mid-October, a day after Bhandari’s parents met senior CBI officials and pressed for narco tests on both him and Sanawar. Notices to Sanawar followed shortly afterwards, and both gave their consent in court before Friday’s order.

What is a narco-analysis test, and does it hold up in court?

Narco-analysis involves administering a sedative drug that places a person in a semi-conscious state in which they may be more likely to answer questions. A polygraph, by contrast, measures physiological responses such as pulse, blood pressure and respiration while a person answers questions.

Indian law is strict about their use. The Supreme Court ruled in 2010 that such tests cannot be forced on anyone and require voluntary consent. Statements made during narco-analysis are also not treated as conclusive proof of guilt. At most, any information that leads investigators to independent, verifiable evidence can be used. That is why legal experts caution against treating the outcome as a verdict on the “VIP” question.

What happens next

• Medical fitness check: expected by the third week of November.
• Date for the test: to be announced after the examination, at the Gandhinagar facility.
• Rathore’s test: he has also consented, and the court process continues.
• CBI scrutiny: the agency continues to verify the audio clips at the heart of the controversy.
• Defamation proceedings: the legal battle over the naming of a “VIP” continues in parallel.

For Bhandari’s family, which has fought for years for the truth about the “VIP,” the court’s order is a significant step. Whether the tests will produce answers that stand up to legal scrutiny, or whether they will deepen the political battle, will become clear only in the coming weeks.

Frequently asked questions

Who is the actor facing the truth serum test in the Ankita Bhandari case?
Television actor Urmila Sanawar, who alleged that a “VIP” was involved in the murder.

Who killed Ankita Bhandari?
Resort owner Pulkit Arya, Saurabh Bhaskar, and Ankit Gupta were convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment.

Where will the narco test be conducted?
In Gandhinagar, Gujarat. The date has not yet been fixed.

Has the alleged VIP been identified by the CBI?
No. Sikkim Governor Dushyant Gautam has been named in the allegations but has denied them, and the CBI is still examining the audio clips.

Is narco test evidence admissible in court?
Not on its own. The test needs consent, and its results are not treated as conclusive proof.

 

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