# Dushyant Kumar Gautam sworn in as Sikkim Governor

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/protests-over-sikkim-governor-appointment-in-india
> Updated: 2026-10-19T06:12:48.000Z. Sources: 48. Developments: 5.

The appointment of BJP leader Dushyant Kumar Gautam as the Governor of Sikkim has triggered intense political protests in India. The controversy centers on allegations from the family of Ankita Bhandari, a resort receptionist murdered in Uttarakhand in 2022, that Gautam is the unidentified ‘VIP’ linked to the crime.

While resort owner Pulkit Arya and two accomplices have been convicted, the Bhandari family maintains that Gautam was involved. They have requested President Droupadi Murmu to withhold the appointment until the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) completes its probe. During protests at India Gate, Delhi Police detained the Bhandari parents and several Congress members, an action the Congress party condemned as “brutality.” Rahul Gandhi has formally urged the President to reconsider the appointment, citing concerns that constitutional immunity could hinder the investigation.

Opposition has expanded beyond New Delhi to Sikkim. The Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) and the Congress party have demanded Gautam’s removal, with the SDF characterizing the appointment as an “insult” to the women of Sikkim. In Gangtok, Congress members have staged protests demanding his recall. While the CBI has assured the Bhandari family that the investigation will be conducted in a “fair and impartial manner,” political tensions remain high.

Despite the ongoing controversy and calls for transparency regarding call records and location details, Dushyant Kumar Gautam was sworn in as the 19th Governor of Sikkim on October 19, 2026. The oath of office and secrecy was administered by Justice A. Muhamed Mustaque, Chief Justice of the High Court of Sikkim, at Lok Bhavan in Gangtok, in the presence of Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang and other state dignitaries.

## Claims

- Resort owner Pulkit Arya and two accomplices were convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for the 2022 murder. (disputed by 9 sources)
- Ankita's father alleged that Dushyant Kumar Gautam was the VIP involved in his daughter's 2022 murder. (corroborated by 14 sources)
- The family demands that Dushyant Kumar Gautam's appointment as Sikkim Governor be put on hold until the CBI investigation is complete. (corroborated by 13 sources)
- Dushyant Kumar Gautam has been appointed as the Governor of Sikkim. (corroborated by 11 sources)
- Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra met with the Bhandari family at India Gate to express solidarity. (corroborated by 11 sources)
- Ankita Bhandari’s parents are protesting at India Gate in New Delhi. (corroborated by 10 sources)
- Ankita Bhandari’s parents demand a CBI probe into an alleged VIP connection to the murder. (corroborated by 10 sources)
- Delhi Police detained Ankita Bhandari's parents and several opposition leaders during a protest at India Gate. (corroborated by 9 sources)
- Ankita Bhandari's parents were released from custody around 5 am on Thursday. (corroborated by 9 sources)
- Congress leaders criticized the police action, describing it as brutality and an assault on democratic freedoms. (corroborated by 7 sources)

## Timeline

### 2026-10-19: Dushyant Kumar Gautam sworn in as Sikkim Governor

Dushyant Kumar Gautam has been sworn in as the 19th Governor of Sikkim at a ceremony in Gangtok, succeeding Om Prakash Mathur.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/dushyant-kumar-gautam-sworn-in-as-sikkim-governor

### 2026-10-17: Sikkim Governor Dushyant Gautam's appointment sparks controversy

The appointment of Dushyant Gautam as Sikkim's Governor has sparked protests from opposition parties following allegations linking him to the 2022 Ankita Bhandari murder case.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/sikkim-governor-dushyant-gautams-appointment-sparks-controversy

### 2026-10-15: Dushyant Kumar Gautam's Sikkim Governor appointment sparks protests

The appointment of Dushyant Kumar Gautam as Sikkim Governor has triggered protests by the family of murder victim Ankita Bhandari, who allege his involvement in her 2022 death and demand a halt to his posting.

24 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ankita-bhandari-murder-case-parents-protest-sikkim-governor-appointment

### 2026-10-15: India Gate protests: Parents of Ankita Bhandari and Congress leaders detained

Delhi Police detained Congress leader Pawan Khera and the parents of Ankita Bhandari during an overnight protest at India Gate demanding justice in the 2022 murder case and the cancellation of Dushyant Kumar's'

7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/india-gate-protests-parents-of-ankita-bhandari-and-congress-leaders-detained

### 2026-10-13: Ankita Bhandari murder case: Parents detained at India Gate protest

Ankita Bhandari’s parents and Congress leaders were detained at India Gate while protesting the appointment of Dushyant Kumar Gautam as Sikkim Governor, demanding a CBI probe into the 2022 murder case.

22 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/uttarakhand-congress-to-protest-dushyant-gautams-appointment-as-sikkim-governor

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Cite as: Dushyant Kumar Gautam sworn in as Sikkim Governor. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/protests-over-sikkim-governor-appointment-in-india