Rahul, Priyanka meet Ankita Bhandari's parents at India Gate amid protest over Sikkim Governor

Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday met the parents of murdered Uttarakhand receptionist Ankita Bhandari at India Gate, where they were protesting against the appointment of BJP leader Dushyant Kumar Gautam as Sikkim Governor.

The Congress leaders expressed solidarity with the family, which has demanded that Gautam's appointment be put on hold until the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) completes its probe into the alleged involvement of an unidentified VIP in the September 2022 murder.

Bhandari's parents have alleged Gautam's involvement in the case and questioned the decision to appoint him to a constitutional position while the investigation remains underway. The allegations against Gautam have not been established in court.

Gautam was appointed Governor of Sikkim on Monday, triggering renewed objections from the family, which has been demanding a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding their daughter's death.

𝗥𝗮𝗵𝘂𝗹, 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝘆𝗮𝗻𝗸𝗮 𝗲𝘅𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁

Rahul Gandhi, accompanied by Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other Congress leaders, met the protesting parents and listened to their concerns over the progress of the investigation.

The meeting marked another public expression of support by the Congress leadership for the family, which has continued its campaign for justice more than four years after Bhandari's murder.

Gandhi had earlier met the parents in August and questioned why they were still seeking answers despite the passage of several years.

He had described the killing as an unforgivable crime and expressed concern that the family continued to struggle for what it considered complete justice.

Wednesday's meeting came as the parents renewed their demand for an investigation into the alleged VIP connection, which has remained a contentious aspect of the case.

𝗙𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗼𝗿'𝘀 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁

The parents staged their demonstration near India Gate after Gautam's appointment as Sikkim Governor.

They demanded that the appointment be suspended until the CBI completes its investigation, arguing that the allegations concerning the case must be examined thoroughly.

The family has alleged that Gautam was connected to the circumstances surrounding Bhandari's murder, although no judicial finding has established his involvement.

Their demand focuses on ensuring that the ongoing investigation is completed before Gautam assumes the constitutional office.

The controversy has brought renewed political attention to a case that previously triggered widespread protests in Uttarakhand over allegations of political influence and attempts to shield an unidentified influential individual.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗔𝗻𝗸𝗶𝘁𝗮 𝗕𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗶?

Ankita Bhandari worked as a receptionist at the Vanantra Resort near Rishikesh in Uttarakhand.

She was murdered on September 18, 2022, and her body was recovered from the Chilla canal four days later.

The killing sparked widespread public outrage, with protesters demanding accountability and a thorough investigation into the circumstances leading to her death.

Resort owner Pulkit Arya, son of former BJP leader Vinod Arya, and two of his accomplices were subsequently prosecuted in connection with the murder.

All three were convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment.

Despite the convictions, Bhandari's family has maintained that important questions surrounding the case remain unanswered.

𝗔𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗲𝗱 𝗩𝗜𝗣 𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀

One of the most disputed aspects of the case has been the allegation that an unidentified VIP was linked to the circumstances surrounding Bhandari's murder.

The allegation attracted considerable attention during the initial investigation and became a central issue in protests demanding justice.

Bhandari's parents and several activists have repeatedly sought a comprehensive investigation into the alleged VIP connection, arguing that the conviction of the three accused should not prevent investigators from examining other possible links.

The ongoing CBI investigation has consequently assumed importance for the family, which believes that further scrutiny is necessary to establish the complete sequence of events.

The allegation concerning the VIP connection remains a matter for investigation and has not been established as a judicial finding.

𝗠𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁

The latest protest has revived political debate over the handling of the murder case and the family's continuing demand for answers.

The Congress leadership's decision to meet the parents at India Gate has added political visibility to their objections to Gautam's appointment.

The case has remained a sensitive issue in Uttarakhand, where the murder prompted demonstrations by residents, students and civil society organisations.

Although three men have been convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment, the family continues to press for a wider investigation into the alleged involvement of influential individuals.

With the CBI probe still underway, the parents have demanded that their concerns be addressed before Gautam's appointment as Governor of Sikkim proceeds.

Wednesday's demonstration underscored the family's determination to pursue the unresolved allegations surrounding their daughter's murder, even after the conviction of those directly prosecuted for the crime.