Delhi Police detain Ankita Bhandari’s parents, Congress leaders during India Gate protest

New Delhi: Delhi Police detained the parents of murdered Uttarakhand woman Ankita Bhandari and several Congress leaders during a protest at India Gate around 4 am on Thursday, triggering sharp criticism from the opposition, which accused the authorities of using force against a grieving family demanding justice.

The early-morning police action came as Ankita's parents continued their protest against the appointment of BJP leader Dushyant Kumar Gautam as the Governor of Sikkim. The family has demanded that his appointment be halted until the completion of a CBI investigation into the alleged involvement of a VIP in their daughter's murder case.

Also read | Ankita Bhandari case: How Dushyant Gautam’s Governor appointment rekindled a family’s fight for justice

Congress leaders Pawan Khera, Supriya Shrinate and Qazi Nizamuddin, who were among those protesting, accused the Delhi Police of forcibly removing demonstrators, including women, and attempting to silence demands for accountability.

“The police are detaining women protesters. The way they are manhandling MPs while detaining them is extremely shameful. The government must understand that the tears of Ankita Bhandari’s parents will cost it dearly,” a protester said.

Congress MP Pawan Khera described the police intervention as an assault on democratic rights, questioning why the parents of a murder victim were being detained while they were demanding justice.

“This is brutality. You can see democracy coming to an end at India Gate. It is ending at 4 am,” Khera said.

Also read | Over 30 journalists detained during Delhi protests; press freedom groups condemn police action

Khera also questioned Gautam's appointment to the constitutional post, referring to allegations raised against the BJP leader in connection with the case.

"Barbarity is happening in this country. The one who has been accused will become the governor, and Ankita's parents will go to jail? We are protesting against rapists, so we will go to jail, and the one who has been accused of rape will become the governor—this is democracy."

Congress leader Supriya Shrinate condemned the police action, alleging that the government was treating Ankita's parents harshly despite their prolonged campaign for justice.

“What kind of action is this? This is a ruthless action against helpless parents who have been demanding justice for four years. Instead of delivering justice to them, the government is appointing the main accused as a Governor and then treating the parents so brutally,” Shrinate said.

She also questioned the timing of the operation, alleging that women protesters were being detained before 6 am.

The protesters demanded the cancellation of Gautam's appointment as Sikkim Governor, arguing that the allegations surrounding the purported VIP connection in the murder case required further investigation.

AICC Delhi in-charge and MLA Qazi Nizamuddin alleged that the police had targeted those seeking justice instead of taking action over the allegations raised against Gautam.

"The family of Ankita Bhandari was holding a peaceful sit-in protest in front of the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi boosted their morale. The police came late at night and arrested the women and us and took us away. Our fight will continue until Dushyant Gautam is behind bars."

Nizamuddin said the Congress would continue supporting the family's campaign and warned that the people of Uttarakhand would not accept the treatment meted out to Ankita's parents.

"The Congress party will continue this fight. The police should have arrested Dushyant Gautam. Today, with Rashtrapati Bhavan in front of us and the memorial and India Gate behind us, Ankita Bhandari’s parents are being forcibly detained along with all of us. Uttarakhand will never tolerate this, especially at this hour of the night, said Nizamuddin."

The police action came hours after Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra visited Ankita's parents at their protest site near India Gate on Wednesday.

The Congress leaders met the family and expressed solidarity with their demand for justice.

Ankita's father, Virendra Singh Bhandari, had earlier urged President Droupadi Murmu to reconsider Gautam's appointment until the investigation into the alleged VIP angle was completed.

"Dushyant Kumar should be behind bars. I earnestly request the Honourable President not to appoint Dushyant Kumar as Governor until the CBI investigation is concluded."

The family has maintained that questions surrounding the alleged involvement of influential individuals in Ankita's murder remain unresolved despite the conviction of three people in the case.

Ankita Bhandari was murdered on September 18, 2022, and her body was recovered from the Chilla Canal on September 24 that year.

The case sparked widespread protests in Uttarakhand, with demands for accountability and a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death.

Pulkit Arya, the owner of the resort where Ankita worked and the son of expelled BJP leader Vinod Arya, was arrested along with two resort employees, Saurabh Bhaskar and Ankit Gupta.

On May 30, 2025, Additional District Judge Reena Negi in Kotdwar sentenced all three to life imprisonment after convicting them of murder, destruction of evidence and other offences.

Despite the convictions, Ankita's parents have continued pressing for further investigation into the alleged VIP connection.