Dushyant Kumar Gautam sworn in as Sikkim Governor amid Ankita Bhandari case protests

Dushyant Kumar Gautam was sworn in as the 19th Governor of Sikkim at Lok Bhavan in Gangtok on Monday, October 19, amid protests over his appointment in connection with the controversy surrounding the 2022 murder of Ankita Bhandari in Uttarakhand.

Gautam’s appointment has drawn objections from political groups, youths and citizens, who have demanded that he not assume the constitutional office until the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) completes its probe into the alleged VIP angle in the case.

President Droupadi Murmu appointed the senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader as Sikkim Governor on October 12. He succeeds Om Prakash Mathur.

Oath administered by Sikkim High Court Chief Justice

The oath of office and secrecy was administered by Sikkim High Court Chief Justice A Muhamed Mustaque at the ceremony in Gangtok. Sikkim Chief Secretary R Telang presented and read out the President’s warrant of appointment before Gautam formally assumed office and signed the oath and affirmation documents.

Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang attended the ceremony alongside members of the Council of Ministers, the Speaker of the Sikkim Legislative Assembly, High Court judges, Lok Sabha MP Raju Bista, MLAs and other dignitaries. Representatives of the Army and Central government agencies, senior state officials and other public representatives were also present.

After the swearing-in, Tamang introduced the newly appointed Governor to the Speaker, ministers, legislators and other dignitaries. Gautam was subsequently accorded a ceremonial Guard of Honour by the Sikkim Armed Police.

Protests in Gangtok over appointment

The swearing-in followed a series of protests against Gautam’s appointment. Last week, youths and citizens without political affiliations staged a peaceful dharna at the District Administrative Centre in Gangtok, urging the Centre to defer his appointment until the CBI investigation into the alleged VIP angle in the Ankita Bhandari murder case is completed.

The Sikkim Pradesh Congress Committee also staged a protest in Gangtok on October 16, demanding that Gautam be recalled until the investigation concludes. The party questioned his appointment to a constitutional office while allegations linked to the case remain unresolved.

The Sikkim Bar Association has also reportedly raised objections to the appointment and urged President Droupadi Murmu to reconsider it.

The protests have centred on demands for accountability and a transparent investigation, rather than opposition to the gubernatorial office itself. Protesters have argued that the appointment should be deferred while the alleged VIP connection remains under investigation.

Why Gautam’s appointment has triggered controversy

The controversy stems from the murder of 19-year-old Ankita Bhandari, who worked as a receptionist at the Vanantra Resort in Uttarakhand’s Rishikesh area. She was killed in September 2022, and her body was recovered from the Chilla canal four days after she went missing.

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.

However, Ankita’s family has continued to demand answers over the alleged involvement of a VIP. The renewed controversy followed allegations linking Gautam’s name to that angle, prompting demands for a further investigation into whether anyone beyond those already convicted was involved.

Gautam has denied the allegations, which remain unproven. The ongoing CBI investigation into the alleged VIP connection has become the central issue in protests against his appointment.

Ankita’s family and opposition leaders seek action

Ankita’s parents have demanded that Gautam’s appointment be withdrawn until the CBI completes its investigation. Their campaign has received support from Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who met the family during their sit-in protest at India Gate in New Delhi.

Rahul Gandhi joined the protest on October 14, with the family and demonstrators calling for the appointment to be put on hold and for a transparent investigation into the alleged VIP angle. Delhi Police detained several protesters, including Ankita’s parents, during the demonstrations before they were released.

The dispute has since extended beyond Uttarakhand, with protests in Delhi and Sikkim bringing renewed attention to the case. Despite the objections and calls for reconsideration, Gautam’s swearing-in proceeded as scheduled on October 19.