Ankita Bhandari case: Rahul urges President to halt Sikkim Governor's appointment

Rahul Gandhi urged President Murmu to halt Dushyant Gautam's appointment as Sikkim Governor until the CBI completes its probe into Ankita Bhandari's murder, saying it could shatter her parents' hope for justice.Rahul Gandhi meets the family of Ankita Bhandari New Delhi,Oct 15, 2026 19:57 ISTLeader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, has written to President Droupadi Murmu, urging her to advise the government to reconsider Dushyant Kumar Gautam's appointment as Sikkim Governor and not allow him to assume office until the CBI completes its investigation into the 2022 murder of Ankita Bhandari.In his letter, Gandhi said the 19-year-old had refused to compromise her dignity for a VIP, which led to her murder. He questioned why the identity of the alleged VIP remained unknown even four years later, blaming what he described as the CBI's sluggish investigation.Gandhi said Ankita's family and several others believed Gautam was connected to the case, and expressed shock over his appointment as governor. He also claimed that no criminal proceedings could be initiated against Gautam while he served in the constitutional post.Accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of showing no concern for women's safety by advising Gautam's appointment, Gandhi appealed to the President to intervene. He urged her not to let Ankita's parents' hope for justice be shattered. "By advising the appointment of Dushyant Gautam, Prime Minister Modi has proven that he has absolutely no concern for women's safety," he wrote.On Thursday, Delhi Police ended an overnight protest at India Gate before dawn, detaining the parents of Ankita Bhandari, Congress leaders and other demonstrators demanding justice in the 2022 case. All those detained were later released. The protesters had also sought a halt to Dushyant Kumar Gautam's appointment as the Governor of Sikkim until the CBI completed its ongoing investigation into Ankita's murder.Accompanied by CRPF personnel, the police moved in while it was still dark and took the protesters away. Congress leaders Supriya Shrinate, Uday Bhanu Chib, Vinod Jakhar and Varun Chaudhary were among those who were briefly detained.The Congress accused the police of manhandling the demonstrators. Supriya Shrinate, Pawan Khera and Kazi Nizamuddin condemned the action, alleging that the authorities were targeting people seeking justice for Ankita and opposing BJP leader Dushyant Kumar Gautam's appointment as Sikkim Governor.Ankita's family and activists had organised the sit-in to demand an investigation into the alleged involvement of an unidentified VIP in her murder. They have alleged that Gautam was linked to the case, while Ankita's parents have claimed that he was the VIP involved.Ankita, 19, worked as a receptionist at Vanantra Resort in Rishikesh. She was killed on 18 September 2022, and her body was recovered from the Chilla canal four days later.Resort owner Pulkit Arya, the son of expelled BJP leader Vinod Arya, and staff members Saurabh Bhaskar and Ankit Gupta were arrested and chargesheeted in the case. On May 30, 2025, Additional District Judge Reena Negi in Kotdwar sentenced them to life imprisonment for murder, destruction of evidence and other offences.- Ends