Dushyant Gautam Lands in Gangtok Ahead of Sikkim Governor Swearing-In
Governor-designate Dushyant Gautam arrives in Gangtok for his swearing-in, amid renewed controversy surrounding the Ankita Bhandari murder case.
The Governor-designate of Sikkim, Dushyant Gautam, arrived at the Burtuk Helipad in Gangtok on Sunday, marking the beginning of his tenure in the Himalayan state. His arrival precedes the official swearing-in ceremony scheduled for October 19 at Lok Bhavan, where he will formally assume his constitutional duties.
Grand Reception in Gangtok
Upon landing, Dushyant Gautam was received by a high-profile delegation. Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang led the welcoming party, joined by Deputy Speaker MLA Raj Kumari Thapa, members of the Council of Ministers, and various MLAs. Also present were the Mayor of GMC, Councillors, the Chief Secretary, the Director General of Police, and several political advisors and senior government officials.
Adding to the formality of the arrival, the Sikkim Armed Police accorded the Governor-designate a Guard of Honour at the Burtuk Helipad.
The Swearing-In Process
The official oath of office is set to be administered tomorrow by the Chief Justice of the Sikkim High Court. Dushyant Gautam's appointment was announced by President Droupadi Murmu on October 12. He takes over the role from Om Prakash Mathur, who has been transferred to Kerala.
A Shadow of Controversy: The Ankita Bhandari Case
While the state prepares for the ceremony, the appointment of the former BJP Uttarakhand in-charge has reignited a storm of controversy linked to the 2022 murder of Ankita Bhandari. Bhandari, a receptionist at a resort near Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, was murdered on September 18, 2022, and her body was later found in the Chilla Canal on September 24.
The case has seen significant legal battles. The resort owner, Pulkit Arya—son of expelled BJP leader Vinod Arya—along with staff members Saurabh Bhaskar and Ankit Gupta, were arrested and chargesheeted. On May 30, 2025, Additional District Judge Reena Negi in Kotdwar sentenced the three to life imprisonment for murder and the destruction of evidence.
Demands for Justice and Transparency
The family of Ankita Bhandari has voiced strong objections to Gautam's appointment to a high constitutional office. They argue that anyone whose name surfaced during the investigation should be cleared by investigative agencies before being appointed to such a role.
Recent developments include:
- CBI Intervention: Ankita's parents recently met senior officials at the CBI headquarters in Delhi to provide further information. The CBI has assured them of a fair and impartial investigation.
- Call Record Demands: The family is demanding the immediate public disclosure of location details and call records for Ajay Kumar and Dushyant Kumar for the period of September 18–19, 2022.
- The Missing Phone: Questions have been raised regarding an old mobile phone belonging to Pulkit Arya, which the family claims the Special Investigation Team (SIT) failed to recover.
The "VIP" Mystery
A central point of contention remains the identity of a "VIP" guest mentioned in the SIT probe. While police maintain that the convictions were based on evidence against the three primary accused, the Bhandari family alleges that powerful individuals have been shielded from the investigation. They believe that elevating a leader associated with these allegations undermines the pursuit of justice for their daughter.