‘SIT found no evidence of VIPs’: BJP responds to allegations in Rishikesh resort murder case

Dehradun: Senior BJP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Naresh Bansal on Monday denied claims of "VIP" involvement in the Rishikesh resort murder case, asserting that the Special Investigation Team (SIT) found no such evidence. "The SIT conducted a complete investigation, after which the court accepted that there was no VIP of any kind," he said.Bansal made the statement at a press conference at the party's state headquarters in Dehradun, amid widespread protests triggered by the release of audio clips in which expelled former BJP MLA Suresh Rathore is purportedly heard referring to a "VIP" involved in the case whom he alleged was BJP's national general secretary Dushyant Gautam. The clips were released by actress Urmila Sanawar, Rathore's purported second wife. While Gautam denied any involvement and Rathore dismissed the clips as "AI-generated", the controversy sparked a political slugfest, with the opposition Congress accusing the BJP-led govt of "shielding VIPs".Responding to the allegations, Bansal accused the opposition of politicising the issue. "Congress is raising the Ankita murder case without any basis and is playing with the emotions of the people of the state over this sensitive issue," he said. He added that the party was not avoiding scrutiny. "The BJP does not shy away from any kind of investigation. As and when facts emerge, they will also be investigated."Asked why a non-bailable warrant was issued against Sanawar but not against Rathore, Bansal said, "I have already stated that a non-bailable warrant has been issued against the woman, and raids are also being conducted to locate Rathore. Once both are found, their statements will be recorded and investigated. If, after that, the name of any other person emerges, the govt will not hesitate to send that person too behind bars."BJP leaders present at the press conference later ignored further questions and ended the interaction abruptly.