Opposition leader demands delay in assuming Sikkim governor role until CBI probe ends

New Delhi, 15 Oct – In a direct address to President Droupadi Murmu, Rahul Gandhi has urged the highest constitutional authority to postpone the swearing‑in of Dushyant Gautam as the new Governor of Sikkim. Gandhi’s plea is anchored in the lingering mystery surrounding the murder of Anketa Bhandari, a 19‑year‑old employee of the Vanantara resort near Rishikesh, whose death on 18 September 2022 sparked nationwide outrage.

Gandhi’s letter outlines that Bhandari’s employer, Pulkit Arya – the son of a prominent Bharatiya Janata Party figure – allegedly forced her to provide "special services" to undisclosed VIP guests. After she resisted, Arya and two of his staff members were accused of murdering her. All three have since been handed life sentences.

The central issue highlighted is the still‑unanswered question: who were the VIPs? The enquiry was handed to the Central Bureau of Investigation after extensive protests in Uttarakhand, but the investigation has progressed slowly. Gandhi argues that placing Gautam, now a constitutional head, above the immediate jurisdiction of the CBI could effectively shield any further probe.

He emphasizes that a governor, akin to the President, must not be implicated in pending criminal matters while in office. Citing Article 74(1) of the Constitution, Gandhi requests that the President ask the government to reconsider its recommendation and defer Gautam’s assumption of duties until the CBI’s findings are finalised.

Gandhi concludes by urging the President to extend compassion to the bereaved parents of Anketa Bhandari, who continue to seek accountability while being detained. He asks for decisive action to protect the integrity of the gubernatorial post.