Citing public concerns over audio clips and questions surrounding the investigation into Ankita Bhandari’s murder, SUSA has called for greater transparency and a review of Dushyant Kumar Gautam’s appointment as Sikkim Governor. The allegations remain unproven.
BY PC Bureau
October 16, 2026: The opposition Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) and the Sikkim University Students’ Association (SUSA) have separately called for a reconsideration of Dushyant Kumar Gautam’s appointment as Governor of Sikkim, citing public concerns and unresolved allegations surrounding the 2022 murder of 19-year-old Ankita Bhandari in Uttarakhand.
The objections have brought renewed attention to the unidentified “VIP” angle in the case, with both organisations questioning the appropriateness of appointing Gautam to a constitutional office while allegations linked to the controversy remain unresolved. Gautam has denied the allegations, which have not been established as findings of wrongdoing against him in a court of law.
In a video statement issued on behalf of the SDF, Komal Chamling, vice-president in charge of the party’s Women’s Wing, expressed solidarity with Ankita Bhandari’s parents and demanded that Gautam should not be appointed Governor of Sikkim or any other state until the allegations are thoroughly examined and justice is delivered.
Chamling questioned the Centre’s decision to appoint Gautam despite the controversy and asked whether the BJP, with its extensive national organisation, lacked alternative candidates for the gubernatorial post.
She also questioned whether the Union government adequately considered the sentiments of Sikkim’s people before making appointments to important constitutional positions.
SDF Questions Centre’s Approach to Sikkim
Chamling argued that Sikkim’s strategic location along international borders made it particularly important for the Centre to exercise sensitivity while making appointments to the office of Governor. She maintained that public sentiment and the state’s political circumstances should be taken into account when selecting individuals for such a significant constitutional position.
The SDF leader also referred to protests reportedly staged by Ankita’s parents near India Gate in New Delhi and criticised their alleged detention by Delhi Police.
She described Gautam’s appointment as unacceptable while questions connected to the murder case remained unresolved, and characterised the decision as an insult to the women and people of Sikkim. The party reiterated its support for Ankita’s family in its pursuit of justice.
Chamling also raised broader questions about political decisions concerning Sikkim. Referring to Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang’s assumption of office in 2019, she cited his earlier conviction in a corruption case and the Election Commission of India’s subsequent reduction of his electoral disqualification period, questioning the wider political circumstances surrounding the decisions of central institutions.
Another concern raised by the SDF leader was the frequency of changes in the state’s gubernatorial office. She claimed that Sikkim had seen four Governors over the preceding seven years and questioned why occupants of such an important constitutional post were not being allowed to complete their tenures.
Highlighting the SDF’s 25-year tenure in government, Chamling said the party had consistently advocated women’s social, political and economic rights.
SDF Strongly Opposes Dushyant Gautam’s Appointment as Sikkim Governor, Raises Ankita Bhandari Case
Gangtok , October 16 : Gangtok, October 16: SDF Opposes Dushyant Gautam’s appointment as Governor of Sikkim, with the opposition Sikkim Democratic Front raising serious concerns over allegations and controversies surrounding the 2022 Ankita Bhandari murder case in Uttarakhand.
In a video statement released by the party, Komal Chamling, Vice-President in charge of the SDF Women’s Wing, questioned the decision to appoint Gautam to a constitutional position amid public concerns over his alleged connection to the controversy.
Read More : https://t.co/VfJDUkw1Hy
[SDF Opposes Dushyant Gautam, Komal Chamling, Sikkim Governor Appointment, Ankita Bhandari Case, Sikkim Democratic Front, Sikkim Political News]
#SikkimNews #SDF #DushyantGautam #KomalChamling #AnkitaBhandari #SikkimPolitics
— The Voice of Sikkim (@tvsikkim) October 16, 2026
SUSA Seeks Review Pending Clarification of Allegations
Sikkim University Students’ Association Seeks Reconsideration of Dushyant Gautam’s Appointment as Governor
Gangtok, October 15: The Sikkim University Students’ Association (SUSA) has urged authorities to reconsider the appointment of Dushyant Kumar Gautam as the new Governor of Sikkim, citing unresolved allegations surrounding the 2022 murder of 19-year-old Ankita Bhandari in Uttarakhand.
In a press statement, SUSA raised concerns over allegations linking Gautam to the unidentified VIP reportedly associated with the murder case. The association demanded transparency regarding the investigation and clarification of the alleged VIP’s identity before proceeding with the appointment.
Gautam has strongly denied the allegations and initiated defamation proceedings. The accusations against him have not been established in court.
Expressing solidarity with Bhandari’s family, SUSA called for an impartial investigation, accountability and adherence to due process, emphasising that allegations should not be treated as proven facts without legal determination.
— The Darjeeling Chronicle (@TheDarjChron) October 15, 2026
Separately, the Sikkim University Students’ Association has urged the competent authorities and the Sikkim government to reconsider Gautam’s appointment until the allegations and the status of the investigation into the case are clarified.
In a statement issued on October 15, SUSA President Debyakarsh and Joint Secretary Krishnakr. Bohun referred to audio clips involving Urmila Sanawar, who has been associated with former BJP MLA Suresh Rathore. The association said the clips had purportedly linked Gautam to the unidentified VIP discussed in connection with the case.
SUSA also referred to questions raised by Ankita’s family concerning call detail records and reports of further investigation into the alleged VIP angle. It argued that these concerns warranted transparency and scrutiny before the appointment proceeded without further clarification.
The students’ body acknowledged that the allegations had not been established in a court of law. It said its appeal was motivated by public interest and solidarity with Ankita’s family, while stressing that the claims must be examined impartially and through due legal process.
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Gautam has strongly denied the allegations, described them as baseless and initiated defamation proceedings.
Ankita Bhandari Case and the Unidentified VIP
Ankita, who was 19, was murdered in September 2022 while working at a resort in Uttarakhand. The case triggered widespread public outrage and demands for accountability. Three men were sentenced to life imprisonment in the original murder case in May 2025.
The separate controversy surrounding an alleged VIP has continued to attract public attention and calls for further scrutiny. Allegations and claims about the identity of the VIP must, however, be distinguished from facts established through the investigation and judicial proceedings.
Gautam’s appointment as Governor of Sikkim was formally announced by Rashtrapati Bhavan on October 12, 2026.
The objections by the SDF and SUSA reflect growing political and civil-society demands for greater transparency in the handling of the controversy. They also raise broader questions about the standards of public scrutiny applied to appointments to high constitutional offices.
The allegations cited by the two organisations remain allegations, not proof of Gautam’s involvement in Ankita Bhandari’s murder. Any determination of wrongdoing must rest on verified evidence and the appropriate legal process.
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