Dehradun: Congress leaders and workers in Dehradun raised slogans outside Lok Bhavan on Thursday regarding the infamous Ankita Bhandari murder case in Uttarakhand. Several leaders, including former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat, Congress Management Committee Chairman Harak Singh Rawat, and Election Campaign Committee Chairman Pritam Singh, participated in the protest. Police subsequently detained Harish Rawat.
Harish Rawat stated that he had no intention of staging any protest. He had come to submit a memorandum to Lok Bhavan officials. This memorandum questioned the appointment of BJP leader Dushyant Kumar Gautam as the Governor of Sikkim.
Congress Questions Dushyant Gautam’s Appointment
Harish Rawat, speaking to reporters, stated that the memorandum clearly mentioned Dushyant Kumar Gautam’s name. He added that the people of Uttarakhand have serious doubts about whether the “VIP” mentioned in the Ankita Bhandari case is the same person.
Rawat said that until the CBI identifies a replacement, questions about Dushyant Kumar Gautam will remain in the eyes of the people of Uttarakhand. He also questioned his appointment as Governor.
Congress workers raised slogans outside Lok Bhavan, prompting police intervention.
Ankita’s parents also detained at India Gate
This incident follows protests at India Gate in Delhi. Early Thursday morning, Delhi Police detained Ankita Bhandari’s parents and several opposition leaders during a sit-in protest. The protesters were demanding justice in Ankita’s case. Ankita’s parents were released in the morning.
The grieving family had protested against the appointment of Dushyant Kumar Gautam as the Governor of Sikkim. The family has demanded a stay on his appointment until an investigation into the alleged allegations and connections related to the case is completed.
Ankita Bhandari worked as a receptionist at a resort near Rishikesh. She was murdered on September 18, 2022, and her body was recovered from the Chilla Canal on September 24.
Three accused sentenced to life imprisonment in 2025
Resort owner Pulkit Arya, son of expelled BJP leader Vinod Arya, and two resort employees, Saurabh Bhaskar and Ankit Gupta, were arrested in the case. A charge sheet was filed against all three, and on May 30, 2025, Kotdwar Additional District Judge Reena Negi sentenced them to life imprisonment for murder, destruction of evidence, and other charges.
Since the murder, there has been public debate about the role of an alleged ‘VIP’ in the case. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) investigation revealed a reference to a room. However, the police stated that the three accused were convicted based on the available evidence.
Ankita’s parents have long demanded that the identity of the ‘VIP’ mentioned in the case be made public. The family alleges that influential people were shielded during the investigation. They say that appointing someone to a constitutional post without receiving a clean chit from investigating agencies undermines the demand for justice.
Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge Target the Government
Lok Sabha Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi criticized the detention of Ankita’s parents. He alleged that the parents were peacefully demanding that Dushyant Gautam not be appointed Governor of Sikkim until the CBI investigation is completed.
Rahul Gandhi wrote on the social media platform X that Ankita’s parents were detained at around 4 a.m. on Thursday, while the world was asleep. He said that they were sitting at India Gate without any disturbance, demanding justice.
Rahul Gandhi further stated that he and Priyanka Gandhi had met Ankita’s parents a day earlier. He alleged that the appointment was made in haste, even before the investigation results were out, and that the parents who raised questions were detained overnight.
He stated that the Congress party would stand with Ankita’s family and continue to support them until they receive justice.
Earlier, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge also criticized this action. He called it the “height of cowardice and insensitivity” of the Modi government.
Posting on X, Kharge alleged that Ankita’s parents, who were pleading for justice, were detained while a so-called “VIP” of the BJP was given the post of Governor. He said that action against those raising questions on behalf of those in power does not reflect the government’s strength, but rather an attempt to avoid questions.