The parents of Ankita Bhandari were released early Thursday morning after being detained by Delhi Police for protesting the appointment of BJP leader Dushyant Kumar Gautam as Sikkim Governor. The family believes Gautam is linked to the circumstances surrounding Ankita’s murder.
Detention and Release Details
Ankita’s parents were detained around 3:45 am at India Gate alongside Congress leaders such as Pawan Khera, Imran Pratapgarhi, Jothimani, and R. Sudha, as well as Supriya Shrinate, Uday Bhanu Chib, Vinod Jakhar, and Varun Chaudhary. They were released approximately at 5 am, according to a senior police official.
Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, condemned the police action on social media, noting that Ankita’s parents were taken into custody while the world was asleep. Gandhi posted a tweet in Hindi expressing disapproval of the early morning detention during a peaceful sit-in protest demanding a halt on Gautam’s appointment.
Ultimatum and Protests
On Wednesday, Ankita’s father Virendra Bhandari gave the government a 24-hour ultimatum to cancel Gautam’s appointment until the CBI completes its probe into the alleged involvement of Gautam and other BJP leaders in Ankita’s death. He warned of nationwide protests if demands were not met.
Congress Support
Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra joined Ankita’s parents at India Gate, demanding President Droupadi Murmu revoke Gautam’s appointment. Rahul Gandhi criticized the BJP, claiming justice has not been served to Ankita’s family and that a ‘VIP’ accused has been rewarded with a constitutional post.
Congress general secretary K.C. Venugopal called the family’s demand “absolutely genuine” and urged the President to reconsider the appointment.
BJP’s Response
Mahendra Bhatt, BJP state president and Rajya Sabha MP, defended the Uttarakhand government’s actions, highlighting swift arrests, formation of an SIT, prosecution efforts, and financial aid of Rs 25 lakh to Ankita’s family. He stated that after the family sought a CBI investigation, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami agreed to advance the process and treated the sensitive case seriously.
Background of the Ankita Bhandari Case
Ankita, a 19-year-old receptionist at the Vanantra resort in Uttarakhand’s Pauri district, was murdered on 18 September 2022. Her body was found six days later in the Chilla canal. In May 2025, the resort owner Pulkit Arya and two employees were convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment.
The case resurfaced in December 2025 when audio clips allegedly involving BJP leaders surfaced, suggesting a “VIP” figure, identified as Dushyant Kumar Gautam, was connected to the case. Gautam denied the allegations and filed a defamation suit against the accusers.
The family has continued to demand investigation into the VIP allegations, a Supreme Court judge to monitor the probe, identification of the VIP, and release of call records related to the case. Following protests, the Chief Minister met the family in January this year, leading to a CBI investigation order.
