Police released the parents of 19-year-old Ankita Bhandari in the early hours of Thursday after detaining them during a protest near India Gate in New Delhi. The family has been demanding that the appointment of former BJP leader Dushyant Kumar Gautam as Sikkim governor be put on hold until the ongoing CBI investigation into the alleged VIP angle in their daughter’s murder is completed.
The parents were released around 5 am, according to reports. Several Congress leaders, including party spokesperson Pawan Khera, social media department head Supriya Shrinate and Indian Youth Congress president Uday Bhanu Chib, were also detained during the protest and later released.
On Wednesday, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra met Ankita’s parents at the protest site and expressed solidarity with the family.
In a post on X, Rahul Gandhi accused the BJP of rewarding an alleged VIP with a constitutional position while Ankita’s family continued to seek justice.
चार साल से अंकिता भंडारी के परिवार को इंसाफ नहीं मिला, लेकिन एक ‘VIP’ आरोपी को संरक्षण और संवैधानिक पद का इनाम ज़रूर मिला।
जहां बलात्कारियों और हत्यारों का फूल-मालाओं से स्वागत होता है और अपराधियों को सत्ता की ताकत से नवाज़ा जाता है – उस महिला-विरोधी BJP से कोई उम्मीद की भी नहीं… pic.twitter.com/i598S7zG7t— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) October 14, 2026Also ReadActor Imran Khan Asked to Leave India by October 28 After Joining Protest Against CEC Gyanesh Kumar
“For four years, Ankita’s family has not received justice, but a ‘VIP’ accused has certainly been rewarded with protection and a constitutional position,” he said.
Gandhi also criticised the BJP over what he described as the honouring of people accused of serious crimes, adding that the Congress stood with the family in its fight for justice.
Family Demands Action Before Governor Appointment
Ankita’s parents have alleged that an unidentified VIP played a role in their daughter’s murder. Her father has claimed that Gautam was the person involved, but the allegations against the BJP leader remain unproven. Gautam has denied the accusations and initiated defamation proceedings against those making them.
The family has appealed to President Droupadi Murmu to intervene and ensure that the appointment is reconsidered until the CBI completes its investigation.
Ankita’s mother broke down during the protest and said Gautam should not be appointed governor before the investigation concludes. Her father issued a 24-hour ultimatum, demanding that the appointment be cancelled and warning of wider protests if the government did not act.
The family has also threatened to stage a hunger strike if it is prevented from protesting. According to reports, Ankita’s mother said they would continue their protest until the appointment was revoked.
Congress leaders criticised the police action, saying the parents were being treated harshly despite seeking answers about their daughter’s death. Supriya Shrinate described the detention as cruel treatment of parents who had been pursuing justice for four years.
Gautam, a former BJP national general secretary, served as the party’s in-charge for Uttarakhand before being appointed governor of Sikkim on Monday. The Congress has alleged that his appointment could shield him from criminal proceedings, though this remains a political claim rather than an established finding.
What Happened to Ankita Bhandari?
Ankita Bhandari worked as a receptionist at the Vanantra Resort in Rishikesh. She was murdered on September 18, 2022, and her body was recovered from the Chilla canal four days later.
Resort owner Pulkit Arya, son of former BJP leader Vinod Arya, and two accomplices, Saurabh Bhaskar and Ankit Gupta, were convicted in the case and sentenced to life imprisonment.
However, questions about the alleged involvement of an unidentified VIP have continued to draw public and political attention. Ankita’s family and activists have demanded that the CBI investigation examine this angle.
Gautam has not been convicted in connection with Ankita’s murder, and the allegations against him remain unproven. The family’s protest has focused on ensuring that the investigation into the alleged VIP connection is completed before his appointment as governor proceeds.
