Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Thursday, 15 October 2026, wrote to President Droupadi Murmu, urging her to ask the Union government to reconsider the appointment of Dushyant Gautam as Governor of Sikkim. Gandhi specifically requested that Gautam not assume office until the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) completes its ongoing probe into the murder of Ankita Bhandari at a resort in Uttarakhand.

The Ankita Bhandari Case: Background

In his letter to the President, Gandhi recounted the facts of the 2022 murder. Ankita Bhandari, 19 years old, was killed on 18 September 2022. She worked as a receptionist at the Vanantara resort near Rishikesh. Her employer, Pulkit Arya — the son of a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader — allegedly pressured her to provide 'special services' to VIP guests, which she refused. Arya and two of his employees were convicted of her murder and are currently serving life sentences.

The Unanswered VIP Question

'One question has gone unanswered for four years: who were the VIPs?' Gandhi wrote, referring to an alleged audio clip that reportedly names a VIP connected to the case. He noted that following protests across Uttarakhand in January 2026, the state government handed the question of the VIPs' identities to the CBI, whose investigation remains underway. Gandhi alleged in his letter that 'the CBI inquiry to determine who the VIPs were is ongoing, but proceeding very slowly.' Notably, Gautam has secured court protection against the allegation linking him to the case.

Gandhi's Constitutional Argument

Gandhi argued that a sitting Governor, as a constitutional head, cannot face criminal proceedings once in office. He contended that Gautam's appointment would effectively place him 'out of the reach of the CBI.' Acknowledging that Governors are constitutionally appointed on the advice of the Council of Ministers led by the Prime Minister, Gandhi invoked Article 74(1) of the Constitution, which gives the President the right to ask the government to reconsider its advice. 'That is why I write to you, as a last resort,' he said in the letter.

Gandhi Meets Ankita's Parents

On Wednesday, a day before writing to the President, Gandhi met Ankita Bhandari's parents at India Gate in New Delhi, where they were protesting against Gautam's appointment. The family has been demanding answers on the case, particularly regarding the identity of the alleged VIP mentioned in the disputed audio clip. This is among the most prominent political interventions into the Bhandari case since her murder nearly four years ago.

What Happens Next

It remains to be seen whether President Murmu will exercise her constitutional powers under Article 74(1) to send the advice back for reconsideration. The political opposition, led by the Indian National Congress (Congress), is expected to continue mounting pressure on the issue. The CBI's probe into the identity of the alleged VIPs is ongoing, and its pace and findings are likely to remain at the centre of this controversy.