NEW DELHI: Nearly four years after the murder of 19-year-old Ankita Bhandari in Uttarakhand, questions over an alleged VIP’s role in the case have resurfaced following a controversial political appointment.The appointment of former BJP national general secretary Dushyant Kumar Gautam as Sikkim governor on Monday has prompted fresh outrage from Ankita’s family, who have named him as the alleged VIP in the case. Her parents are now protesting at India Gate in Delhi, demanding that President Droupadi Murmu halt his appointment until the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) completes its probe into the alleged VIP angle.“Dushyant Kumar should be behind bars… I earnestly request the Honorable President not to appoint Dushyant Kumar as governor until the CBI investigation is concluded,” Ankita’s father, Virendra Singh Bhandari, said in Delhi.Her mother, Soni Devi, said the family was deeply hurt by the appointment and appealed to the President to intervene.“We were deeply pained when we heard the news on the 12th that he (BJP leader Dushyant Kumar Gautam) has now been named Governor. I appeal to the Honourable President, who is herself a woman and will surely understand my sentiments, to halt the move to appoint this individual as Governor until the CBI investigation against him is concluded,” she said.The appointment has triggered fresh political backlash, with the Congress accusing the Modi government of protecting Gautam instead of ensuring justice for Ankita’s family. The allegations against Gautam have not been established in court.
What did state government say?
The Uttarakhand government on Wednesday said its legal efforts had ensured that the accused in the Ankita Bhandari murder case remained behind bars, after a court once again rejected their bail applications. It cited the life sentences awarded to the convicts, the constitution of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) and the CBI probe ordered at the request of Ankita’s parents as steps taken to secure justice.The government said the accused were arrested within 24 hours of the incident coming to light, while a chargesheet of around 500 pages was prepared, incorporating evidence and statements from nearly 100 witnesses. It also said the prosecution had consistently opposed bail, ensuring the accused remained in custody during the trial. The case ultimately resulted in life imprisonment for the convicts.The state said it had changed the government counsel three times in response to the family’s demands and ordered a CBI investigation after Ankita’s parents sought one. It added that the family received financial assistance of Rs 25 lakh, while jobs were provided to Ankita’s father and brother.The government also criticised Congress leaders and other organisations for repeatedly raising questions over the alleged VIP angle. It said anyone with concrete evidence should present it to the investigating agencies or the court, rather than making public allegations. The government accused political leaders of attempting to politicise the case and mislead the public.
Congress questions appointment
Congress MP Pawan Khera questioned why Gautam had been appointed governor before the CBI investigation was completed. He alleged that the decision amounted to granting protection to a person facing allegations.“You granted them immunity. You aren’t even waiting for the CBI inquiry. What is the pressure to wrap this up so quickly? Who are you shielding? Is there anyone else you need to protect? Who is being blackmailed here—forcing you to appoint someone as a high-ranking official just to grant them immunity? Why risk everything?” Khera said.He accused the government of siding with the person facing allegations rather than the victim’s family.“The very people who are supposed to deliver justice are not standing with the victim. They have sided with the accused—the person facing the allegations…” he said.In a separate statement, the Congress alleged that Ankita was pressured to provide sexual favours to Gautam and was murdered after refusing. The party accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of rewarding Gautam by appointing him governor.“Narendra Modi has rewarded the very Dushyant Gautam against whom allegations were made by appointing him as the Governor of Sikkim. The daughters and women of the country are watching how Narendra Modi and his government are protecting Dushyant Gautam. Instead of delivering justice to Ankita Bhandari, the entire BJP government is bent on silencing the voice of the victim’s family,” it said.Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also met Ankita’s family at India Gate. Rahul had earlier raised questions over the handling of the case, saying the family was still waiting for justice nearly four years after her death.
Why is the VIP angle still under investigation?
An FIR was registered against an unidentified VIP in January 2026, following allegations and the circulation of audio and video clips referring to the alleged involvement of a VIP in Ankita’s murder.Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami recommended a CBI probe on January 9. The agency subsequently took up the case through its Special Crime Branch and obtained records, including the police FIR and the Special Investigation Team’s report.The investigation has drawn criticism from the Congress. Uttarakhand Pradesh Congress Committee president Ganesh Godiyal alleged that the CBI had made no meaningful progress and had not registered an FIR against the person named by Ankita’s parents. He also announced a one-hour silent fast in Dehradun to protest Gautam’s appointment.The family’s demand is that the alleged VIP angle be investigated and that the appointment be halted until the probe is complete. The allegations against Gautam remain unproven.
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What happened to Ankita Bhandari?
Ankita, 19, worked as a receptionist at Vanantra Resort near Rishikesh. She was murdered in September 2022, and her body was recovered from the Cheela canal on September 24.The case involved allegations that she was pressured to provide sexual favours to guests at the resort, which was run by Pulkit Arya, the son of a former BJP leader.Resort owner Pulkit Arya, manager Saurabh Bhaskar and another accused, Ankita Gupta, have been sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder.However, the convictions did not end demands for an investigation into the alleged VIP angle. The registration of an FIR against an unidentified VIP in January 2026 brought renewed attention to the case.Gautam’s appointment as Sikkim governor has now prompted Ankita’s parents to take their demand to India Gate, urging the President to halt the appointment until the CBI investigation is concluded.
