The family of Ankita Bhandari has protested the appointment of Dushyant Kumar Gautam as the Governor of Sikkim, citing unproven allegations linked to the 2022 Rishikesh murder case. The family has demanded the government rescind the appointment, threatening protests. Dushyant Gautam has rejected the claims and initiated defamation proceedings against those linking him to the investigation.
The family of the late Ankita Bhandari, who was murdered at a Rishikesh resort in 2022, has formally opposed the appointment of Dushyant Kumar Gautam as the new Governor of Sikkim. During a recent public statement, the victim's parents alleged that the new governor has links to a 'VIP angle' in the case, a theory suggesting that influential individuals were involved in the crime beyond those already convicted.
Following the appointment, the family gathered in Delhi to protest, where they were briefly detained by local police. The family has issued an ultimatum to the central government, demanding that the appointment be cancelled, and has warned of potential nationwide agitation if their request is not addressed. The activists supporting the family have reiterated their demand for a probe monitored by the Supreme Court to investigate aspects of the case they believe remain unresolved.
Pulkit Arya, the owner of the Vanantra Resort where the incident occurred, was previously convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder. The investigation into the physical perpetrators of the crime has been concluded.
Dushyant Kumar Gautam, who served as the BJP’s national general secretary and was the party's in-charge for Uttarakhand, has firmly denied all allegations. In response to the claims made by the family, he has initiated legal defamation proceedings against those associating his name with the murder investigation. He has characterized the accusations as baseless and politically motivated.
This dispute highlights a continuing conflict regarding the scope of the 2022 investigation. As the matter involves legal proceedings and public allegations, the final outcome will depend on the judicial process and the government's response to the family's demands. Observers of the political and administrative landscape may track further developments regarding the defamation case and any official government response to the ultimatum.