Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has written a letter to President Droupadi Murmu asking her to direct the Narendra Modi government to reconsider Dushyant Gautam's appointment as Sikkim governor till CBI completes its probe in the Ankita Bhandari case.

In a letter shared on X, Rahul said he was "surprised" by Gautam’s appointment, arguing that several people, including Ankita’s family, believe he is connected to the case. He asked the President to advise the government to reconsider the appointment and not allow Gautam to assume office until the investigation is complete.

Rahul wrote that Ankita, a 19-year-old receptionist, was murdered after refusing to compromise her dignity for a VIP. He questioned why, four years after her death, the identity of the alleged VIP had still not been established.

"Even four years later, due to the CBI’s sluggish investigation, the question remains: who was that VIP?" he wrote. He alleged that the CBI probe had moved slowly and said the appointment had been made before its findings were available.

The Congress leader also argued that a person serving as Governor could not face criminal proceedings while in office. He asked the President not to allow the appointment to undermine the Bhandari family’s pursuit of justice.

Rahul further attacked the Modi government, alleging that the decision showed indifference to women’s safety. He said the Congress stood with Ankita’s parents and would continue to support their fight for justice.

The family’s demand

Ankita Bhandari’s parents have been demanding that Gautam’s appointment be put on hold until the CBI concludes its investigation into the alleged involvement of a VIP in their daughter’s murder. They have named Gautam in their allegations, though these have not been established in court.

On October 14, Virendra Singh Bhandari and his wife staged a sit-in at India Gate in Delhi, urging President Murmu not to appoint Gautam as Sikkim Governor until the CBI investigation was completed.

“Dushyant Kumar should be behind bars,” Ankita’s father said. “I earnestly request the Honorable President not to appoint Dushyant Kumar as Governor until the CBI investigation is concluded.”

Ankita’s mother made a similar appeal, saying the President, as a woman, would understand the family’s sentiments and should halt the move until the investigation was over.

Rahul and Priyanka joined protest

Rahul and Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra visited the India Gate protest site on Wednesday and met Ankita’s parents. Gandhi had earlier met the family in August, when he said four years had passed without justice for Ankita.

The family approached Rahul's office after Gautam was appointed Sikkim Governor on Monday.

Delhi Police detained Ankita’s parents, Congress leaders and other protesters during an overnight demonstration at India Gate around 4 am on Thursday. They were released later in the morning. Congress leaders detained included Pawan Khera, Imran Pratapgarhi, Supriya Shrinate and Indian Youth Congress president Uday Bhanu Chib.

Rahul criticised the detention, saying Ankita’s parents had been taken into custody while peacefully demanding that Gautam not be made Governor until the CBI probe was complete. He accused the government of trying to silence voices seeking accountability.

The Ankita Bhandari case

Ankita Bhandari, a receptionist at the Vanantara resort near Rishikesh in Uttarakhand, was murdered in September 2022. Resort owner Pulkit Arya, son of former BJP leader Vinod Arya, and two employees, Saurabh Bhaskar and Ankit Gupta, were convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment.

The case triggered widespread protests in Uttarakhand, and following renewed demonstrations in January 2026, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami recommended a CBI investigation.

Ankita’s family has alleged that an unidentified VIP was involved in the circumstances leading to her murder and has named Gautam in its allegations. Gautam has denied the accusations and has initiated defamation proceedings against those who made them.

Political confrontation

The appointment has become a major political flashpoint. Opposition leaders, including Congress, Samajwadi Party and Trinamool Congress figures, have backed the family’s demand and questioned the timing of Gautam’s appointment.

Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi asked what message the appointment sent to a grieving family and demanded answers from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Trinamool MP Mahua Moitra called for Gautam’s recall and completion of the CBI probe.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav urged Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to speak out, while SP MP Dimple Yadav said the appointment had left Ankita’s family and women across the country distressed.

Meanwhile, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami accused the Congress of politicising the case. He said the state government had accepted the demand for a CBI probe and had strongly opposed bail petitions in the High Court, adding that all those found guilty had been jailed.