Ankita Bhandari Case: Parents Give Centre 24 Hours to Cancel Gautam’s Appointment

The parents of Ankita Bhandari, the 19-year-old woman murdered in Uttarakhand in 2022, have issued a 24-hour ultimatum to the Centre to cancel Dushyant Kumar Gautam’s appointment as Sikkim Governor, threatening a nationwide agitation if their demand is not met.

Ankita’s parents were detained early Thursday while protesting near India Gate in New Delhi against the appointment. They were released around 5 am on October 15, hours after being taken into custody. Her father said the family would launch protests across the country if the government failed to act. The family wants Gautam’s appointment put on hold until the ongoing CBI investigation is completed.

The detention prompted a strong reaction from Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, who accused the Modi government of silencing victims’ families. In a post on X, Gandhi said Ankita’s parents had been taken into custody while peacefully demanding that the appointment be reconsidered until the investigation was complete. He asserted that the fight for justice would continue and that the Congress would stand with the family. Congress leaders Pawan Khera, Supriya Shrinate, Imran Pratapgarhi and Uday Bhanu Chib were also detained and later released.

Ankita worked as a receptionist at the Vanantra Resort in Rishikesh, where she was killed on September 18, 2022. Her body was recovered from the Chilla canal four days later. Resort owner Pulkit Arya, son of former BJP leader Vinod Arya, and two accomplices were convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment.

However, the case has continued to attract controversy over allegations that an unidentified VIP was connected to the crime. Ankita’s family and activists have demanded a thorough investigation into this angle, with Gautam’s name being raised in connection with the allegations. Gautam has denied the accusations and initiated defamation proceedings against those making them.

Gautam, a former BJP national general secretary who previously served as the party’s Uttarakhand in-charge, was appointed Sikkim Governor on Monday. The Congress has alleged that the appointment could shield him from criminal proceedings while he holds office. These remain allegations, not established findings of guilt.

The family’s ultimatum has intensified pressure on the Centre to address its concerns and ensure that the alleged VIP angle receives a thorough investigation.