Actress detained at home as probe intensifies
Uttarakhand Police arrested actress Urmila Sanawar at her residence in Govindnagar, Saharanpur on Sunday, days after she received a formal notice from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) relating to the Ankita Bhandari murder probe, officials and reports said.
The arrest came ahead of Sanawar's scheduled appearance before a CBI court to record whether she would give consent to a narco-analysis test, the reports added. A First Information Report (FIR) was registered at Ranipur Kotwali police station, Haridwar, on the night of October 24, following a complaint lodged by Deepika Rathore, daughter of former BJP MLA Suresh Rathore.
Allegations in FIR and CBI notice
The complaint alleged that obscene, objectionable and defamatory remarks were circulated on social media targeting Deepika Rathore and her family, with the intent of damaging their social reputation, according to the report. The FIR prompted local police action and came amid renewed scrutiny of social media material purportedly connected to the broader Ankita Bhandari investigation.
Sanawar had been summoned by the CBI in connection with a viral audio clip that has drawn attention as investigators re-examine potential links to the murder case. According to the reports, the CBI served a formal notice at Sanawar's Saharanpur residence, directing her to appear and offer voluntary consent for narco-analysis.
“The CBI questioned me on the 18th. Today, I received a call from a CBI officer asking if I was at home. Upon arriving at my residence, they served me a notice for a narco-analysis test and asked me to appear before them the day after tomorrow at 10:30 AM,” Sanawar said, according to the report.
Background and recent developments
Sanawar has been in the spotlight after an audio clip linked to the Ankita Bhandari case circulated on social media, with references to an alleged “VIP” figure. The case attracted renewed public and political attention earlier this month following appointments and statements that intensified speculation about influential persons' possible involvement. The CBI's involvement has signalled a federal-level probe into aspects of the case.
Authorities said Sanawar attended a preliminary questioning session on October 18, which lasted several hours, and the subsequent notice asked her to appear on October 23 to provide consent or refusal for the narco-analysis procedure. Reports state that she was arrested on Sunday, a day before the court appearance.
What the arrest means procedurally
Under current investigative practice, a narco-analysis test is sought as part of forensic or investigative steps when agencies believe it may elicit information relevant to offences under probe. Consent is ordinarily required for such tests; questions about voluntariness and legal safeguards often arise in court proceedings. The CBI's notice to Sanawar sought her voluntary consent, according to the reporting.
Local police action in parallel — such as the FIR at Ranipur Kotwali — indicates a coordinated response to alleged defamatory material on social media as well as the central agency's enquiries into possible links to the murder investigation.
Timeline of reported events
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| October 18 | CBI conducted a preliminary questioning session with Urmila Sanawar (reported). |
| October 23 | CBI notice directed Sanawar to appear and provide voluntary consent/refusal for narco-analysis (reported). |
| October 24 | FIR registered at Ranipur Kotwali police station, Haridwar, after complaint by Deepika Rathore (reported). |
| October 25–26 (weekend) | Sanawar was arrested at her Govindnagar residence in Saharanpur ahead of a CBI court appearance (reported). |
Reaction and next steps
The arrest has drawn attention on social media and among local political circles given the sensitive nature of the underlying murder probe. The CBI's continuing investigation and any legal proceedings in the CBI court will determine whether the narco-analysis request proceeds and what further charges, if any, may follow from the FIR alleging defamatory online material.
At this stage, the reports cite Sanawar's own account of the CBI questioning and notice but do not include statements from the CBI or the Uttarakhand Police confirming the exact grounds for the arrest or subsequent custody details. Further court records or official releases from investigative agencies will clarify procedural developments.
- Key immediate issues: whether Sanawar consents to narco-analysis and the outcome of any CBI court hearing.
- Legal safeguards: voluntariness of tests and admissibility in court will be legal points to watch.
- Local impact: the FIR over alleged defamatory social media posts indicates heightened local sensitivities around the case.
The Ankita Bhandari murder case remains under investigation, and agencies are continuing to examine material and leads as they pursue both criminal responsibility and related online defamation complaints, according to the reporting.
