In another surprise protest against the BJP government, Rahul Gandhi sat on a dharna at the India Gate lawns on Wednesday evening, with the parents of Uttarakhand murder victim Ankita Bhandari, against the appointment of Dushyant Kumar Gautam as Sikkim governor despite his name cropping up in the September 2022 case.
Gautam is not named in any chargesheet yet, but Bhandari’s parents allege he is the “VIP” mentioned in the case recently.
Parents of Ankita Bhandari have been protesting the appointment of BJP leader Dushyant Kumar Gautam as Sikkim governor despite his name cropping up in the September 2022 case. Bhandari’s parents allege he is the “VIP” mentioned in the case recently.
Today, Ankita’s parents, carrying the plea for justice for their daughter, are sitting at India Gate, miles away from their home. Uttarakhand Congress chief Ganesh Godiyal on Tuesday announced a one-hour silent fast in Dehradun to protest the appointment of Dushyant Gautam. The Uttarakhand government, however, stressed that it has already acted swiftly in the case investigation, and agreed with related demands by the victim’s family. “Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami made it clear from the outset that women’s safety and tough action against criminals are the government’s priorities. An SIT was constituted to probe the case in depth. Under the judicial process, the convicts were sentenced to life imprisonment. Rahul later posted on X : “For four years, Ankita Bhandari’s family has not received justice, but a ‘VIP’ accused has certainly been rewarded with protection and a constitutional position. Where rapists and murderers are welcomed with garlands and criminals are honoured with the power of authority, no hope can be expected from such a misogynistic BJP either. I and the Congress Party stand with them – in their grief as well as in this fight for justice. The CBI has since taken custody of records related to the case, including the Special Investigation Team report, the police FIR, and other documents. Godiyal alleged that the appointment was a direct attempt to save Gautam, as no case can be registered against a Governor. He further alleged that the CBI probe had made no progress. “The investigation has not advanced even an inch, and the CBI has not filed any FIR against the named accused. An official noted that government lawyers were also changed, and when Ankita’s parents demanded a CBI probe, the chief minister ordered it.
Within 24 hours of the incident, the accused were arrested. The case involves allegations that the 19-year-old, who worked as a receptionist, was murdered for refusing sexual favours to guests at the resort run by Pulkit Arya, the son of a former BJP leader, in Rishikesh. In Ankita Bhandari’s alleged murder, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) took up the case after Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami recommended a federal agency probe on January 9, 2026.
This verdict was based on the evidence presented by the court and the legal process,” said an official. The case, in which three men have been sentenced to life in jail by a local court, gained renewed attention after an FIR was registered against an unidentified “VIP” in January 2026, following allegations and viral audio and video clips referring to such a VIP. Appointing such a person to the post of Governor is highly objectionable,” he said. Uttarakhand BJP government sources said on Wednesday that “prompt action, impartial investigation, effective prosecution and assistance to the victim’s family” have been provided.
