Rahul Gandhi Joins Protest with Ankita Bhandari’s Family Over Sikkim Governor Appointment

New Delhi: Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, alongside Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, joined the parents of Ankita Bhandari in a demonstration at India Gate on Wednesday. The protest centered on the recent appointment of former BJP leader Dushyant Kumar Gautam as the Governor of Sikkim, with the victim’s parents alleging he is the unidentified “VIP” connected to the 2022 case.

The 19-year-old receptionist was murdered in September 2022 after allegedly resisting pressure to provide sexual favors to resort guests in Rishikesh. While three individuals—including resort owner Pulkit Arya—have already been sentenced to life imprisonment, the controversy resurfaced after allegations regarding a “VIP” triggered a fresh FIR and a subsequent handover of the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) earlier this year. Gautam has not been formally named in any chargesheet.

Criticizing the central government, Rahul Gandhi asserted that the victim’s family remains without full closure while an individual under scrutiny was granted constitutional office. State Congress leaders, including Uttarakhand chief Ganesh Godiyal and in-charge Kumari Selja, also argued that the gubernatorial appointment provides immunity from investigation and questioned the pace of the federal probe.

The Uttarakhand government countered the allegations, stating that the administration acted decisively from the beginning. Officials highlighted that the primary accused were arrested within 24 hours, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) secured life sentences in court, government prosecutors were replaced upon the family’s request, and the state promptly recommended a CBI inquiry once demanded by the parents. In response to Congress’s political attacks, the BJP brought up past misconduct allegations against opposition lawmakers, reiterating that the judicial and investigative processes in the Bhandari case have been strictly upheld.