New Delhi: “Ever since we heard that Dushyant Gautam has been made the Governor of Sikkim, we have not been able to sleep,” said Virendra Singh Bhandari, father of Ankita Bhandari who was murdered at a Rishikesh resort in September 2022 for allegedly refusing to provide ‘extra services’ to a VIP guest.
On Wednesday night, Bhandari’s parents were briefly detained and released as they protested at the India Gate in Delhi against the October 12 appointment of Dushyant Gautam as the governor of Sikkim, a move that would give him immunity from prosecution. Under Article 361(2) of the Constitution, no criminal proceedings can be instituted or continued against a state Governor in any court during their term of office. They were joined by Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Supriya Shrinate and social worker Yogita Bhayana.
Ankita Bhandari’s body was recovered from the Chilla Canal six days after her alleged disappearance in 2022. Three men—Pulkit Arya, son of BJP leader Vinod Arya, Saurabh Bhaskar, resort manager, and Ankit Gupta, assistant manager—were convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment in May 2025. Later the same year, Gautam was named on social media as the VIP in question by Urmila Sanawar, wife of former BJP legislator Suresh Rathore. The cause was taken up by the Opposition and civil activists; Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Dhami recommended a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the case in January this year.
Speaking to ThePrint, Virendra Singh Bhandari said that the person who is an accused in the killing of a 19-year-old has now been rewarded. “Dushyant Gautam is the VIP for whom my daughter was killed. Yet, he has been made the Governor. How can we, the grieving parents of Ankita, live with that knowledge?” he said. “On 12 October, I made up my mind that we will have to go straight to Delhi. We will have to raise our voice from Delhi only then will it be heard all over the country.”
On reaching Delhi and gathering for a demonstration, the Bhandaris, along with several others, were detained by the Delhi Police. “We were only here to ask the government to help us. Instead they put us in a van and took us away. Is this how they treat our daughters?” Bhandari remarked.
He told ThePrint that if the government doesn’t withhold the order appointing Gautam, there will be nationwide protests. “Ankita was this country’s daughter, and everyone will step out on the streets for her,” he said.
“Our first demand is that the CBI investigation be conducted under the supervision of the Supreme Court judge. Secondly, Renu Bisht’s statement should be taken: on whose orders did she break the resort?” he said. Renu Bisht is the legislator from Yamkeshwar constituency, and is alleged to have ordered the bulldozing of Vanantara Resort, where Ankita Bhandari was murdered, soon after the incident, a move many say destroyed crucial evidence related to the case.
“Why are Renu Bisht’s call details not recorded yet?” Bhandari asked. He also said that statements must be taken from Urmila Sanawar and her husband Suresh Rathore, and that the latter should undergo a narco test.. “Now, Suresh Rathor’s narco test should be done because he will not give a statement,” he said.
Bhandari further added that the phone details of Dushyant Gautam and Ajay Kumar— another BJP leader accused of being one of the mysterious VIPs in Ankita’s murder—from 18 to 24 September 2022, and their locations, should be revealed.
Ankita’s mother said that she is reminded of her daughter every time she speaks to a young girl. “She was a young girl full of dreams and today she is no more. All because of these people,” she sobbed.
(Edited by Nardeep Singh Dahiya)
BJP has always held rapists in very high regard. Whether it’s Bilkis Bano or Ankita Bhandari or any other woman – their rapists and murderers are celebrated and honoured as heroes by the BJP.
Bilkis Bano’s rapist was welcomed with grand celebrations by BJP leaders. The whole nation saw that.
Ankita Bhandari’s rapist Dushyant Gautam got selected as the Governor of Sikkim.
Unless you have a rape or murder on your resume, there is hardly any future for you in the BJP.