Congress Questions Dushyant Gautam’s Appointment as Sikkim Governor

• Congress protests Dushyant Gautam’s appointment as Sikkim Governor.
• Godiyal and Selja question the progress of the Ankita Bhandari investigation.
• BJP counters Congress with allegations concerning its own leaders.
• The controversy renews demands for accountability in the 2022 murder case.

GG News Bureau
Dehradun, 14th Oct: The appointment of former BJP National General Secretary Dushyant Gautam as Sikkim Governor has triggered a political row in Uttarakhand, with the Congress linking the decision to the ongoing investigation into the 2022 murder of 19-year-old Ankita Bhandari.

Uttarakhand Congress president Ganesh Godiyal announced a one-hour silent protest in Dehradun on Tuesday, questioning Gautam’s appointment to a constitutional post while demands for justice in the case remain unresolved.

Godiyal alleged that Bhandari’s parents had named an unidentified VIP while seeking justice for their daughter. He also questioned the progress of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe, arguing that the appointment was objectionable while questions surrounding the alleged VIP remained unanswered.

Congress leader Kumari Selja also criticised the decision, saying the investigation should proceed and allegations raised by the victim’s family should be examined through due legal process.

The allegations linking Gautam to the case remain contested. His appointment as Governor does not, by itself, establish involvement in the crime.

BJP counters Congress
The BJP rejected the Congress’s criticism and accused the party of double standards over allegations involving its own leaders.

Uttarakhand BJP state media in-charge Manveer Singh Chauhan questioned the Congress’s response to reports concerning Congress MP A Bimol Akoijam, who was reportedly dismissed by Jawaharlal Nehru University following an inquiry under its sexual harassment framework. Chauhan also criticised Congress leaders over alleged mistreatment of women within the party.

The exchange has widened the political confrontation, with both parties trading accusations over women’s safety, accountability and the conduct of their leaders.

Ankita Bhandari case back in focus
Bhandari was found dead in a canal in September 2022 after working as a receptionist at a resort in Uttarakhand. The case drew widespread attention amid allegations that she had been pressured to provide sexual favours to guests. The resort was run by Pulkit Arya, the son of a former BJP leader.

The case regained attention in 2026 following renewed demands for an investigation into the alleged involvement of an unidentified VIP. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami recommended a CBI probe on January 9, 2026. The agency subsequently took up the case through its Special Crime Branch.

The controversy surrounding Gautam’s appointment has once again brought the demand for justice into the political spotlight. The focus remains on establishing the facts through a transparent investigation and ensuring accountability wherever evidence supports legal action.