Several Congress leaders who participated in the protest were also detained and subsequently released. Those detained included Pawan Khera, head of the Congress media and publicity department; party MP Imran Pratapgarhi; Supriya Shrinate, head of the party’s social media department; and Indian Youth Congress president Uday Bhanu Chib.
The protest centred on the family’s demand that Gautam’s appointment be put on hold until the CBI completes its investigation into the alleged VIP angle.
Ankita’s family and activists have repeatedly demanded a comprehensive investigation into the alleged involvement of an unidentified VIP in the crime. Gautam’s name has surfaced in allegations made by the family and activists concerning the alleged VIP connection.
However, these allegations have not established his involvement in the murder. Gautam has denied the accusations and initiated defamation proceedings against those who have made them.
The Congress has alleged that Gautam’s appointment as Sikkim governor could shield him from potential legal action. The party has argued that a governor cannot be subjected to criminal proceedings while holding office and has called for the appointment to be reconsidered until the investigation is complete.
Gautam, a former national general secretary of the BJP who also served as the party’s in-charge for Uttarakhand, was appointed Sikkim governor earlier this week.
The controversy surrounding his appointment has brought renewed attention to the unresolved questions raised by Ankita’s family regarding the alleged VIP angle.
Ankita Bhandari was 19 when she was murdered on 18 September 2022. She worked as a receptionist at the Vanantra Resort in Rishikesh, Uttarakhand.
Her body was recovered from the Chilla canal four days after her death, triggering widespread outrage across the state and demands for a thorough investigation.
Resort owner Pulkit Arya, the son of former BJP leader Vinod Arya, and two accomplices were convicted in the case and sentenced to life imprisonment.
Despite the convictions, the alleged involvement of an unidentified VIP became a major point of public and political controversy. Ankita’s family and activists have continued to demand further investigation into this aspect of the case.
The renewed protests and the Congress’s criticism of the government have intensified the political debate surrounding the murder case, with the family continuing to press for answers and demanding that Gautam’s appointment be reconsidered.
With PTI inputs
