# Sikkim opposition demands governor's recall over murder case

> Congress and SDF call for Dushyant Gautam's removal until CBI completes probe into 2022 Ankita Bhandari death.
- Title: Sikkim opposition demands governor's recall over murder case
- Summary: Congress and SDF call for Dushyant Gautam's removal until CBI completes probe into 2022 Ankita Bhandari death. Sikkim opposition parties demand President…
- Keywords: dushyant gautam, sikkim governor, ankita bhandari, congress, sikkim democratic front, central bureau of investigation, bharatiya janata party, news, politics, Sikkim, opposition, demands
- Source: The Hindu — https://thehindu.com/news/national/sikkim/opposition-parties-protest-dushyant-gautams-appointment-as-sikkim-governor/article71599063.ece
- Author: The Hindu Bureau
- Published: 2026-10-18T06:06:30+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: dushyant gautam, sikkim governor, ankita bhandari, congress, sikkim democratic front, central bureau of investigation, bharatiya janata party, news, politics
## New Sikkim Governor faces opposition
Opposition parties in Sikkim have opposed the appointment of Dushyant Kumar Gautam as the State's Governor, demanding his recall.
## The Ankita Bhandari case
Ankita Bhandari, a nineteen-year-old receptionist at a resort in Uttarakhand's Rishikesh, was killed on September eighteen, twenty twenty-two. Resort owner Pulkit Arya and two accomplices were convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment.
## Congress alleges unresolved VIP involvement
State Congress president Gopal Chhetri said the resort owner forced Bhandari to provide sexual service to a VIP. She went missing after refusing and was found dead in a drain four days later.

> She went missing after refusing to do so and was found dead in a drain four days later.
## Gautam's name linked to investigation
Pressure mounted on the Uttarakhand government when Ankita's family and activists raised a particular leader's name.The government allowed a CBI inquiry, which commenced in February.Dushyant Gautam's name has become a subject of nationwide discussion since.
## Congress questions BJP's appointment
Gopal Chhetri questioned the BJP for appointing Gautam as Sikkim's Governor while the investigation is ongoing, saying there was no justification in giving significant responsibility to a person whose name surfaced in the controversy.
## SDF calls appointment an insult
The Sikkim Democratic Front described Gautam's appointment as an insult to women in Sikkim. Komal Chamling, in charge of the SDF women's wing, urged President Murmu to withdraw Gautam's appointment as State Governor.
## Concerns over gubernatorial instability
Komal Chamling noted frequent changes in the gubernatorial post, saying Sikkim has seen four Governors in the past seven years.She also expressed concern over the implications of the appointment in a geopolitically sensitive border State.

> Sikkim has seen four Governors in the past seven years.
## Key takeaway

Sikkim opposition parties demand President Murmu recall newly appointed Governor Dushyant Gautam until the CBI finishes investigating his alleged involvement in a twenty twenty-two murder case.