‘Should Be Behind Bars, Not in Raj Bhavan’: Ankita Bhandari’s Parents Target Dushyant Gautam After Meeting Rahul Gandhi
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New Delhi: The grief-stricken parents of Ankita Bhandari, who was murdered in Uttarakhand in 2022, joined Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra at India Gate on Wednesday to stage a protest.The family expressed deep anger over senior BJP leader Dushyant Kumar Gautam’s appointment as Governor of Sikkim, demanding an immediate halt to his swearing-in until the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) completes its probe into the alleged "VIP" connection in the case.
Ankita’s father, Virendra Bhandari, launched a fierce attack on the central government for rewarding Gautam with a gubernatorial post while allegations surrounding the mysterious "VIP" guest at the resort where his daughter worked remain unresolved. Addressing the media at the demonstration site alongside social activist Yogita Bhayana, the grieving father asserted that Gautam should face rigorous questioning and be behind bars rather than holding constitutional office.
Appeal to President Murmu and Questions Over CBI Probe
Flanked by Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, Ankita’s parents made a direct emotional appeal to President Droupadi Murmu to intervene and freeze Gautam’s gubernatorial appointment.
Key demands and allegations raised by the family:
- Halt Governor Appointment:Immediate suspension of Dushyant Kumar Gautam's appointment as Governor of Sikkim pending investigation.
- Expose the 'VIP': Unmasking the high-profile guest whose demands Ankita refused before her murder at the Vanantara Resort near Rishikesh.
- Questioning CBI Intent:The family voiced strong suspicion over the timing of the CBI probe ordered in October 2026, alleging it was designed to shield influential political figures.
- Preserve Critical Evidence:Allegations that the initial Special Investigation Team (SIT) failed to extract crucial call detail records and phone evidence linked to primary convict Pulkit Arya.
Background of the 2022 Murder Case
Nineteen-year-old Ankita Bhandari was murdered in September 2022 while working as a receptionist at the Vanantara Resort in Ganga-Bhogpur near Rishikesh.Her body was subsequently recovered from the Chilla Canal.
The resort owner, Pulkit Arya—son of expelled BJP politician Vinod Arya—and two resort staff members, Saurabh Bhaskar and Ankit Gupta, were arrested and subsequently sentenced to life imprisonment in May 2025 by a Kotdwar court for murder and destruction of evidence. However, Ankita's parents and opposition parties have maintained that powerful political figures who were key patrons at the resort were systematically protected during the investigation.
Rahul Gandhi reiterated the Congress party's full support for the family, assuring them that the fight for complete justice and the identification of every individual involved in the crime would continue in Parliament and on the streets.
