The Bar Association of Sikkim has urged President Droupadi Murmu to defer the swearing-in of Governor-designate Dushyant Kumar Gautam, citing unresolved concerns surrounding the 2022 murder of 19-year-old Ankita Bhandari in Uttarakhand.
In an urgent representation, the association sought postponement of the ceremony scheduled for October 19 and asked that Gautam’s appointment be kept in abeyance until concerns surrounding the alleged VIP angle in the case are addressed.
The association said proceeding with the appointment amid unresolved questions could undermine public confidence in constitutional institutions. It clarified that its appeal was not intended to prejudge anyone’s guilt.
Gautam, a senior BJP leader and former national general secretary of the party, was appointed Sikkim Governor on October 12. His appointment has drawn objections from Ankita’s family, opposition leaders and civil society groups.
Ankita, a receptionist at Uttarakhand’s Vanantra resort, went missing in September 2022. Her body was recovered four days later. Resort owner Pulkit Arya and two employees, Saurabh Bhaskar and Ankit Gupta, were sentenced to life imprisonment for her murder in 2023.
The controversy over an alleged VIP connection has continued. Gautam has denied allegations linking him to the matter and has not been named in the murder chargesheet. The association has called for due process and greater accountability.