New Delhi: The parents of Ankita Bhandari, who was murdered in Uttarakhand in 2022, were detained by Delhi Police during a protest near India Gate in the early hours of Thursday, October 15. They were released around 5 am, hours after joining a sit-in demanding justice for their daughter and calling for the appointment of Dushyant Kumar Gautam as Sikkim Governor to be put on hold until the ongoing Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe is completed.
Several Congress leaders, including Pawan Khera, Supriya Shrinate and Indian Youth Congress chief Uday Bhanu Chib, were also detained during the protest and released later. The police action drew sharp criticism from Congress leaders, who accused the authorities of targeting people seeking justice for Ankita.
The protest followed renewed public scrutiny of the case after Gautam, a former BJP national general secretary who had served as the party’s Uttarakhand in-charge, was appointed Sikkim Governor. Ankita’s family has raised allegations about an alleged VIP connection to her murder and demanded that the investigation be completed before his appointment proceeds.
Ankita Bhandari’s Parents Demand Hold on Governor Appointment
Ankita’s parents have demanded that Gautam’s appointment as Sikkim Governor be put on hold until the CBI investigation into the alleged VIP angle in the case is completed.
Her father, Virendra Singh Bhandari, has sought intervention from the President and demanded that the appointment be cancelled pending the investigation. He also issued a 24-hour ultimatum, warning that people across the country could take to the streets if the demand was not met.
Ankita’s mother said the family would continue its protest until the appointment was revoked. She also warned that if the authorities did not allow them to stage a sit-in at the protest site, they would begin a hunger strike at their home.
The family has repeatedly questioned whether the alleged VIP angle in the murder has been fully investigated. The allegations against Gautam remain unproven, and he has denied them.
Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Meet Ankita’s Parents
On Wednesday, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra visited the protest site near India Gate and met Ankita’s parents.
Priyanka Gandhi expressed solidarity with the family and comforted Ankita’s mother during the meeting. The visit brought further attention to the family’s demands and the controversy surrounding Gautam’s appointment.
The protest continued overnight before police detained the demonstrators in the early hours of Thursday. The detention of Ankita’s parents and several opposition leaders prompted further criticism from Congress.
Congress Slams Police Action
Congress leaders Pawan Khera, Supriya Shrinate and Kazi Nizamuddin condemned the detentions, alleging that the police had acted harshly against Ankita’s parents and others demanding justice.
Khera criticised the action, arguing that people raising questions about the case were being detained while the family’s concerns remained unresolved.
Shrinate also questioned the treatment of Ankita’s parents, saying they had been seeking justice for years. She alleged that the authorities were being harsh towards the family instead of addressing its concerns.
Kazi Nizamuddin said the Congress would continue its campaign over the case and maintained that the family’s demands should be addressed.
The Congress also criticised the government over Gautam’s appointment, alleging that it raised serious questions about accountability. The party’s objections are linked to the family’s demand for a thorough investigation into the alleged VIP connection.
What Is the Ankita Bhandari Murder Case?
Ankita Bhandari, a 19-year-old receptionist at the Vanantra Resort near Rishikesh in Uttarakhand, was murdered in September 2022. Her body was recovered from the Chilla Canal on September 24, six days after her death.
Resort owner Pulkit Arya and two employees, Saurabh Bhaskar and Ankit Gupta, were arrested in connection with the case. They were convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment in May 2025 for murder, destruction of evidence and other offences.
However, questions surrounding an alleged VIP connection to the crime have continued to fuel public and political debate. Ankita’s family and activists have demanded a deeper investigation into this aspect of the case.
The renewed controversy following Gautam’s appointment as Sikkim Governor has brought the family’s demands back into focus. The parents are seeking a hold on the appointment until the CBI investigation is completed, while the Congress has criticised the government and the police response to the protest.
Although Ankita’s convicted killers have been sentenced to life imprisonment, her family continues to demand answers regarding the alleged VIP angle. The detention and subsequent release of her parents on Thursday have added another development to the ongoing campaign for justice.