3 days ago
Rishikesh resort receptionist murder case: Court sentences ex-BJP minister's son Pulkit Arya, his two aides to life imprisonment
KOTDWAR: The additional district and sessions court (ADJ Court) at Kotdwar delivered its verdict on Fri, finding all three accused— resort owner Pulkit Arya, his employee Saurabh Bhaskar, and associate Ankit Gupta—guilty of murder of the 19-year-old receptionist working in the resort.
The court sentenced the trio to life imprisonment under IPC sections 302 (murder), 201 (destruction of evidence) and the Immoral Traffic Prevention Act. Arya has also been convicted under IPC section 354 A (sexual harassment). Ahead of the verdict, extensive security arrangements were put in place by the police administration in Kotdwar. The prosecution had submitted a 500-page charge sheet in the court. The court found that the evidence produced by the prosecution proved that the deceased girl was pressurised for 'extra services' to a VIP guest and after she refused to do so, she was killed.
Arya is the son of now-expelled BJP leader Vinod Arya, who was a minister of state in the Trivendra Singh Rawat government till 2021. The victim had been employed as a receptionist at the resort for about 20 days before she was killed, allegedly after sexual assault. Her murder set off protests throughout the state, prompting the state government to set up a special investigation team (SIT) to probe the matter.
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What do you believe should be the focus for lawmakers after this case?
Strengthening women's safety laws
Improving investigation and prosecution process
