Delhi Police Detain Ankita Bhandari's Parents During India Gate Protest

Congress figures including Supriya Shrinate, Pawan Khera, and Kazi Nizamuddin condemned the early morning sweep, characterizing the police response as a brutal suppression of peaceful dissent. Protesters argue that while the perpetrators of the 2022 murder—resort owner Pulkit Arya and two accomplices—were sentenced to life imprisonment in May 2025, the government’s decision to elevate Gautam to a constitutional post undermines the pursuit of justice. Khera described the detentions as a symbolic end to democratic freedoms, noting the sharp contrast between the treatment of the grieving parents and the political advancement of those under scrutiny.

Ankita’s father, Virendra Singh Bhandari, had previously appealed to the President to halt the appointment pending a full CBI investigation. The family, supported by Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi earlier on Wednesday, remains steadfast in their demand for accountability. Congress leaders have vowed to continue their campaign, asserting that the public in Uttarakhand will not accept the current handling of the case or the perceived impunity granted to political figures involved in the controversy.