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{{Short description|Indian politician}}

'''Vinod Arya''' is an Indian politician and a former leader of the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] from the state of [[Uttarakhand]]. He served as a [[state minister]] under the government of then-Chief Minister [[Trivendra Singh Rawat]].<ref name=A>{{cite news |last1=Mishra |first1=Avaneesh |title=Vinod Arya, father of Ankita murder accused Pulkit, who used ayurveda business to fuel his rise in Uttarakhand BJP |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/political-pulse/vinod-arya-father-ankita-murder-accused-pulkit-ayurveda-business-uttarakhand-bjp-8178738/ |publisher=[[Indian Express]] |date=September 29, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221010085537/https://indianexpress.com/article/political-pulse/vinod-arya-father-ankita-murder-accused-pulkit-ayurveda-business-uttarakhand-bjp-8178738/ |archive-date=October 10, 2022}}</ref> He also served as chairman of the Uttarakhand Mati Kala (Pottery) Board with a [[state minister]]'s rank.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Srivastava |first1=Piyush |title=Mighty brought to justice for receptionist murder: Uttarakhand BJP leader's son sentenced to life |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/mighty-brought-to-justice-for-receptionist-murder-uttarakhand-bjp-leaders-son-sentenced-to-life-prnt/cid/2105329 |publisher=The Telegraph |date=May 31, 2025}}</ref> In 2018, Vinod Arya was made a state minister with the responsibility of handling the Uttarakhand Animal Welfare Board (Animal Husbandry Department) as its vice president.<ref>{{cite news |title=CM names 14 BJP leaders to head boards, committees of government |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/dehradun/cm-names-14-bjp-leaders-to-head-boards-committees-of-government/articleshow/67211296.cms|publisher=[[The Times of India]] |date=December 22, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=उत्तराखंड: मंत्री के बेटे ने किया लॉकडाउन का उल्लंघन, बिना पास के पहुंचे चमोली |url=https://www.abplive.com/news/states/uttrakhand-minster-son-violet-lockdown-rules-1407569 |publisher=[[ABP Live]] |date=May 24, 2022}}</ref> In 2021, he was appointed as the co-in-charge of the Uttar Pradesh BJP OBC Morcha.<ref>{{cite news |title=UP BJP OBC मोर्चा के सह प्रभारी बने डॉ विनोद आर्य, हरिद्वार में हुआ जोरदार स्वागत |url=https://www.etvbharat.com/hindi/uttarakhand/state/haridwar/bjp-leader-vinod-arya-appointed-as-co-in-charge-of-obc-front-in-uttar-pradesh/uttarakhand20211213162150041 |publisher=ETV Bharat |date=December 13, 2021}}</ref>

He was expelled from the Bharatiya Janata Party in September 2022 following the arrest of his son, Pulkit Arya, in connection with the [[Murder of Ankita Bhandari]].<ref name=B>{{cite news |last1=Hirwani |first1=Peony |title=India’s ruling party expels member amid massive protests after son accused of killing 19-year-old receptionist |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/asia/india/bjp-vinod-arya-son-killing-receptionist-b2174448.html |publisher=[[The Independent]] |date=September 24, 2022}}</ref>

== Background ==
He is originally from [[Roorkee]] and has a background in the [[Ayurveda|ayurvedic]] business. His association with the [[Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh]] helped his political rise within the BJP. His son, Ankit Arya, also held a position as the vice-president of the state OBC commission.<ref name=A/>

== Controversies ==
=== Expulsion from BJP ===
In September 2022, Vinod Arya and his son, Ankit Arya, were expelled from the BJP after Vinod's other son, Pulkit Arya, was arrested and charged with the murder of [[Ankita Bhandari]], a receptionist who worked at a resort he owned. The murder case sparked widespread public outrage and protests in Uttarakhand.<ref name=B/> Pulkit Arya, along with two other employees of the resort, was convicted and sentenced to [[life imprisonment]] in May 2025 for the murder, destruction of evidence, and criminal conspiracy.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Raj |first1=Aiswarya |title=Ex-BJP minister’s son convicted for Ankita Bhandari’s murder: What was the case that rocked Uttarakhand? |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/ex-bjp-minister-son-convicted-ankita-bhandari-murder-case-uttarakhand-10038356/ |publisher=[[Indian Express]] |date=May 31, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250601151725/https://indianexpress.com/article/india/ex-bjp-minister-son-convicted-ankita-bhandari-murder-case-uttarakhand-10038356/ |archive-date=June 1, 2025}}</ref>

=== Alleged sexual assault and criminal charges ===
In December 2022, a case was registered against Vinod Arya for alleged [[sexual assault]] and [[attempted murder]], based on a complaint from his former driver. He was booked at the Jwalapur police station in Haridwar under [[Section 377|Sections 377]] (unnatural offences), 511 (attempting to commit offences), 307 (attempt to murder), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 504 (intentional insult), and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the [[Indian Penal Code]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mishra |first1=Avaneesh |title=Vinod Arya, father of Ankita murder accused Pulkit, who used ayurveda business to fuel his rise in Uttarakhand BJP |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/political-pulse/vinod-arya-father-ankita-murder-accused-pulkit-ayurveda-business-uttarakhand-bjp-8178738/ |publisher=[[Indian Express]] |date=September 29, 2022}}</ref> Police noted conflicting statements from the complainant during the investigation.<ref>{{cite news |last=Nawaz |first=MS |title=Vinod Arya case: Complainant's statements conflicting, say police |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/dehradun/vinod-arya-case-complainants-statements-conflicting-say-police/articleshow/96312078.cms |publisher=[[The Times of India]] |date=18 December 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Nawaz |first=MS |title=Uttarakhand cops to collect evidence in sexual assault case against former minister Vinod Arya |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/dehradun/uttarakhand-cops-to-collect-evidence-in-sexual-assault-case-against-former-minister-vinod-arya/articleshow/96265343.cms |publisher=[[The Times of India]] |date=16 December 2022}}</ref> Also, a video connected to the allegations circulated widely on social media, showing the staffer bleeding from his left wrist while Arya applies a bandage.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sexual assault allegation against Vinod Arya: Video of staffer goes viral |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/dehradun-news/sexual-assault-allegation-against-vinod-arya-video-of-staffer-goes-viral-101671201172291.html |publisher=[[Hindustan Times]] |date=16 December 2022}}</ref>
== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Arya, Vinod}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Bharatiya Janata Party politicians from Uttarakhand]]
[[Category:Politicians from Uttarakhand]]
[[Category:State cabinet ministers of Uttarakhand]]
[[Category:People from Haridwar district]]
[[Category:People from Uttarakhand]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]

Vinod Arya - Revision history

Abhishek Mandal: stub