Kharge denounces detention of Ankita Bhandari's parents at India Gate

The detention occurred in the early hours of Thursday as the family and opposition leaders staged a sit-in to protest the appointment of Dushyant Kumar Gautam as the Governor of Sikkim. Congress leaders, including Pawan Khera and Supriya Shrinate, joined the demonstration, arguing that the government’s focus on silencing grieving parents while elevating political allies to constitutional posts signals a collapse of democratic accountability. The parents were eventually released from the Tilak Marg Police Station.

This confrontation stems from the long-standing legal battle surrounding the 2022 murder of Ankita Bhandari. While the primary perpetrators—resort owner Pulkit Arya and his staff—were sentenced to life imprisonment in May 2025, the family continues to challenge the political connections they claim shielded the accused. By targeting those seeking further investigation, the authorities have reignited national debate over the intersection of political patronage and judicial integrity in the capital.