Sikkim Pradesh Congress Committee (SPCC) staged a dharna in Gangtok on Friday, demanding that the Union government rescind Dushyant Kumar Gautam’s appointment as governor, which was announced on October 12, 2026.
The call comes after the CBI, at the behest of Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, opened an inquiry in January 2026 into the murder of 19‑year‑old Ankita Bhandari, a receptionist at Vanantra Resort in Pauri Garhwal. The case, which saw the resort owner Pulkit Arya and two employees sentenced to life imprisonment in May 2023, still hinges on an alleged VIP who allegedly pressured Bhandari to provide “special services”; that VIP’s identity remains undisclosed.
Gopal Chettri, while addressing the crowd, urged President Droupadi Murmu to intervene and ensure that Gautam does not assume office until the investigation concludes. He also slammed Delhi Police for detaining Bhandari’s parents during an overnight protest at India Gate on October 15, releasing them only after hours of pressure. Bhandari’s mother, crying, told reporters that the government must cancel the appointment within 24 hours, or else the people across the country will take to the streets.
Gautam, who served as BJP’s in‑charge for Uttarakhand, has denied any involvement in the murder case and has not been named as an accused by any court. No judicial finding has linked him to the incident, yet his name keeps surfacing in the controversy.
The SPCC has vowed to continue its protest and threatens a nationwide hunger strike if the appointment is not revoked. A cabinet meeting scheduled for next week will decide whether the Union government will comply with the party’s demands or uphold the gubernatorial appointment.