Rahul, Priyanka Meet Ankita Bhandari’s Family; Dushyant Gautam’s Sikkim Governor Appointment Under Fire

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By TRH News Desk

Congress alleges the BJP is failing to deliver justice to the Uttarakhand murder victim’s family after Dushyant Gautam, a former BJP general secretary and Uttarakhand in-charge, was appointed Governor of Sikkim.

New Delhi, October 14, 2026 — Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra met the family of Ankita Bhandari at India Gate, renewing the demand for justice in the 2022 murder case that continues to trigger political controversy in Uttarakhand.

The Congress shared details of the meeting on X, alleging that the BJP government was suppressing the victim’s family’s voice rather than ensuring justice. The party questioned the appointment of Dushyant Gautam as Governor of Sikkim, announced by President Droupadi Murmu this week.

Gautam previously served as a BJP national general secretary and was the party’s Uttarakhand in-charge when the case came to light. Allegations surrounding the possible involvement of a politically connected VIP and claims that Ankita was pressured to provide services to the individual have remained central to the controversy. These allegations should not be treated as established facts or proof of criminal involvement.

Anti-rape activist Yogita Bhayana, who was present with Ankita’s parents at India Gate, also criticised the appointment in a video statement. She alleged that the identity of the VIP mentioned in the controversy had been concealed from the beginning and questioned whether relevant call detail records and other evidence had been properly investigated.

Bhayana further alleged that a property associated with the case had been demolished and claimed that a woman’s subsequent statements had not received adequate investigative attention. She argued that Gautam’s appointment as Governor raised questions about accountability and the handling of the case.

Referring to the ongoing Navratri festival, Bhayana questioned the contrast between public reverence for women and goddesses and the continuing demand for justice by Ankita’s family.

The Congress has framed Gautam’s appointment as a matter of political accountability.

Ankita Bhandari, a 19-year-old receptionist at a resort in Uttarakhand, was murdered in September 2022. The case triggered widespread protests and demands for a transparent investigation, including calls to establish whether any influential person had sought special services from her.

The meeting at India Gate has brought renewed attention to the case, with the Congress demanding accountability and Ankita’s family continuing to seek justice.

Journalist Ajit Anjum shared a video on X, showing that the police personnel were trying to persuade the parents of Ankita Bhandari to leave the India Gate lawn where they have staged a sit-in.

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