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Dushyant Kumar Gautam's Sikkim Governor appointment sparks protests
The appointment of Dushyant Kumar Gautam as the Governor of Sikkim has sparked intense political controversy and protests. The family of Ankita Bhandari, a 19-year-old receptionist murdered in Uttarakhand in 2022, has alleged that Gautam is the unidentified VIP linked to the crime. The family is demanding that his appointment be deferred until the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) completes its inquiry into the alleged VIP involvement.
On Wednesday, Ankita’s parents staged a protest at India Gate in New Delhi, where they were detained by police during a pre-dawn crackdown. They were released around 5 am on Thursday. During the protest, Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra met with the family to express solidarity. Rahul Gandhi has formally written to President Droupadi Murmu, invoking Article 74(1) of the Constitution to urge the government to reconsider the appointment, arguing that constitutional immunity could impede the ongoing investigation.
While resort owner Pulkit Arya and two accomplices were previously convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder, the investigation into the alleged VIP angle remains active. Dushyant Kumar Gautam has denied all allegations and has initiated defamation proceedings. Gautam is scheduled to take his oath of office in Gangtok on October 19, 2026.
Entities
Ankita Bhandari · Central Bureau of Investigation · Congress · Congress Party · Dushyant Kumar Gautam · Priyanka Gandhi Vadra · Rahul Gandhi · Sikkim
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 14 SOURCES] Ankita's father alleged that Dushyant Kumar Gautam was the VIP involved in his daughter's 2022 murder. theobserverpost.com · www.millenniumpost.in · www.rozanaspokesman.com · thenews21.com · tennews.in · +7 more
- [● 5 SOURCES] Ankita Bhandari's parents issued a 24-hour ultimatum to the government to revoke Dushyant Kumar Gautam's appointment as Sikkim Governor. www.dtnext.in · pragativadi.com
- [● 7 SOURCES] Delhi Police detained Ankita Bhandari's parents and several Congress leaders during a protest at India Gate around 4 am on Thursday. theobserverpost.com · www.devdiscourse.com · www.dtnext.in · www.millenniumpost.in · pragativadi.com
- [DISPUTED] Resort owner Pulkit Arya and two accomplices were convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for the 2022 murder. www.rozanaspokesman.com · www.millenniumpost.in · www.dtnext.in · theobserverpost.com · ukhrultimes.com · +1 more
- [● 13 SOURCES] The family demands that Dushyant Kumar Gautam's appointment as Sikkim Governor be put on hold until the CBI investigation is complete. theobserverpost.com · www.rozanaspokesman.com · thenews21.com · www.dtnext.in · www.millenniumpost.in · +5 more
- [● 9 SOURCES] Ankita Bhandari's parents were released from custody around 5 am on Thursday. theobserverpost.com · www.millenniumpost.in · www.rozanaspokesman.com · tennews.in · www.devdiscourse.com · +2 more
- [● 5 SOURCES] Rahul Gandhi met with Ankita Bhandari's parents at the protest site in New Delhi. theobserverpost.com · www.devdiscourse.com · thenews21.com · pragativadi.com · www.justicenews.co.in
- [● 4 SOURCES] Dushyant Kumar Gautam has denied the allegations and initiated defamation proceedings. theobserverpost.com · www.rozanaspokesman.com · www.millenniumpost.in