Ankita Bhandari’s parents are protesting at India Gate in Delhi, four years after their 19-year-old daughter was murdered in Uttarakhand. They want President Droupadi Murmu to put on hold the appointment of BJP leader Dushyant Kumar Gautam as Governor of Sikkim until the CBI completes its probe into the “VIP” angle of the case.
Here is a timeline of the case and why it is back in the news.
Who was Ankita Bhandari?
Ankita Bhandari was born in Dobh-Srikot village in Pauri, Uttarakhand. She had enrolled in a hotel management course in Dehradun but dropped out after her father lost his job. On August 28, 2022, she joined Vanantra Resort near Rishikesh as a receptionist, on a salary of Rs 10,000 a month.
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What happened in September 2022
- September 18, 2022: Ankita went missing from the resort.
- September 22: The case was moved from the revenue police to the regular police after repeated complaints from her father.
- September 23: Resort owner Pulkit Arya and two staff members were arrested. Part of the resort was bulldozed the same day.
- September 24: Her body was recovered from the Chilla canal. The BJP expelled Pulkit Arya’s father, Vinod Arya.
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) found that Ankita was pressured to provide “special services” to a guest and was killed after she refused.
The verdict
On May 30, 2025, a court in Kotdwar convicted Pulkit Arya and resort staff Saurabh Bhaskar and Ankit Gupta of murder and criminal conspiracy, among other charges. The three were sentenced to life imprisonment. The court examined 47 witnesses during the trial.
The “VIP” question
The identity of the alleged “VIP” guest was never established. After fresh protests, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami recommended a CBI probe into this angle on January 9, 2026. An FIR was also registered against an unidentified VIP.
Why Dushyant Kumar Gautam’s appointment is being opposed
Dushyant Kumar Gautam was appointed Governor of Sikkim on October 12, 2026. His name had surfaced in social media claims about the case in late 2025, and Ankita’s parents have alleged that he was involved.
Gautam denies the allegation. He has never been named an accused or charge-sheeted in the case. In January 2026, the Delhi High Court, hearing his defamation suit, ordered social media posts linking him to the case to be taken down.
The India Gate protest
On October 14, Ankita’s parents, Virendra Singh Bhandari and Soni Devi, held a sit-in at India Gate. They urged the President to hold the appointment until the CBI investigation is complete. Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi joined them, and the party has said it will continue its campaign.
Frequently asked questions
Who killed Ankita Bhandari?
Resort owner Pulkit Arya and staff members Saurabh Bhaskar and Ankit Gupta were convicted of her murder in May 2025 and sentenced to life imprisonment.
When was Ankita Bhandari murdered?
She went missing on September 18, 2022, and her body was recovered from the Chilla canal on September 24, 2022.
Why are Ankita Bhandari’s parents protesting?
They want the appointment of Dushyant Kumar Gautam as Sikkim Governor put on hold until the CBI completes its probe into the VIP angle of the case.
Is Dushyant Kumar Gautam an accused in the case?
No. He has never been named an accused or charge-sheeted. He denies any link, and the Delhi High Court ordered social media posts linking him to the case to be removed.
Is the CBI investigating the case?
Yes. The Uttarakhand government recommended a CBI probe into the VIP angle in January 2026.
Sources: The Week, Outlook India, AIR News. Photo: Sanjib Chaudhary / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (India Gate, file photo).
