Rahul Gandhi seeks to block Dushyant Gautam's gubernatorial appointment

The opposition leader’s intervention follows a volatile Thursday morning in Delhi, where police detained Ankita Bhandari’s parents during their protest at India Gate. The family has issued a 24-hour ultimatum to the government, demanding the appointment be suspended until a comprehensive probe reveals the identity of the "VIP" mentioned in connection with the crime. They specifically requested the disclosure of phone records for both Ajay Kumar and Dushyant Kumar from mid-September 2022.

Gandhi’s appeal underscores a growing political friction over the case, which remains a source of public anger in Uttarakhand. By elevating a figure scrutinized by the victim's family to a constitutional office, the Prime Minister has signaled a disregard for women's safety, Gandhi alleged. The family maintains that their struggle transcends this individual case, framing it as a broader battle for justice for all women, as they continue to pressure authorities to break their silence on the investigation’s slow progress.