Rahul, Priyanka Gandhi meet Ankita Bhandari’s parents at India Gate as family protests Sikkim Governor appointment
Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, met the parents of the late Ankita Bhandari, who were staging a sit-in protest near India Gate in New Delhi. The family is opposing the appointment of Dushyant Kumar Gautam as Governor of Sikkim, alleging he was the “VIP” linked to their daughter’s 2022 murder.
Background to the case
Ankita Bhandari, who worked as a receptionist at the Vanantra Resort in Uttarakhand’s Pauri district, was killed in 2022. Her employer, Pulkit Arya—the son of a BJP leader—along with two aides, was found guilty of her murder. According to the investigation, Bhandari was killed after she refused to provide “special services” to a VIP who was expected to visit the resort in the week of her death.
After nearly three years of trial, a sessions court in August 2025 sentenced the three accused to life imprisonment. Despite the convictions, Bhandari’s family and supporters have continued to press for a deeper probe into the alleged role of the unnamed VIP referenced during the investigation.
Protest and demands at India Gate
At the sit-in near India Gate, Ankita’s parents, Virendra Singh Bhandari and Soni Devi, reiterated their demand for a comprehensive investigation into the alleged VIP angle. They urged President Droupadi Murmu to suspend Mr. Gautam’s appointment as Sikkim Governor until an ongoing Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the alleged connection is completed.
The family has alleged that Mr. Gautam, a former Rajya Sabha MP and BJP general secretary, was the VIP in question, and claimed that his political influence kept his name out of the initial investigation. Their protest follows growing calls from supporters and opposition leaders for transparency over the alleged link.
Gautam denies allegations; defamation suit filed
Mr. Gautam has categorically denied the allegations. Earlier this year, he filed a defamation suit in the Delhi High Court against several individuals, including the Uttarakhand Congress unit, over statements made in connection with the case.
Political reactions
Rahul Gandhi, who also met the Bhandari family in August, expressed solidarity with them on Wednesday. On X, he wrote: “For four years, Ankita Bhandari’s family has not received justice, but a ‘VIP’ accused has certainly been rewarded with protection and a constitutional position.”
He further stated: “Where rapists and murderers are welcomed with garlands and criminals are honoured with positions of authority, no hope can be expected from such a misogynistic BJP. Today, Ankita’s parents, carrying their plea for justice for their daughter, are sitting at India Gate, miles away from their home. I and the Congress Party stand with them in their grief as well as in this fight for justice.”
Amid the controversy, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said on Wednesday that his government had ensured swift arrests in 2022, constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT), secured life imprisonment for the convicts in 2025, and recommended a CBI investigation into the alleged VIP angle.
What’s next
The CBI probe into the alleged VIP connection remains ongoing. Bhandari’s parents have called for Mr. Gautam’s appointment as Governor of Sikkim to be kept in abeyance until the agency completes its investigation. Mr. Gautam continues to deny any involvement and has sought legal recourse against what he terms defamatory allegations.
Significance
The protest at India Gate underscores the enduring public outrage surrounding Ankita Bhandari’s killing and the continuing dispute over the alleged VIP angle. It has also intensified political scrutiny of Mr. Gautam’s gubernatorial appointment, even as the state government points to the swift prosecution and the pending central probe.
