Congress General Secretary (Organisation) and MP K.C. Venugopal has called on President Droupadi Murmu to intervene in the 2022 Ankita Bhandari murder case and revoke the appointment of Sikkim Governor Dushyant Gautam.

Speaking in Delhi, Venugopal said the Congress had continued its campaign for justice in Uttarakhand and that Ankita Bhandari’s family should receive justice. He also alleged that the BJP was shielding the accused. The allegation was made by Venugopal and is not an established finding in the material available for this report.

“Our party fought for 4 years in Uttarakhand; there must be justice for Ankita Bhandari and her family. The BJP is shielding the accused—the person involved in the case is being completely protected by the BJP,” Venugopal said.

Congress demand for presidential intervention

Venugopal said the demand was for the governorship to be revoked and for the President to withdraw the appointment. Reports by India Gazette and The News Mill on 14 October 2026 identified the appointment at issue as Dushyant Gautam’s governorship of Sikkim.

“The entire sentiment of Uttarakhand lies with this family,” Venugopal said, adding that Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi had met Ankita Bhandari’s parents. He said the Congress and the INDIA alliance stood with the family.

The President’s role in the matter was central to Venugopal’s appeal. He specifically asked the President to intervene and withdraw the appointment, but the material available does not record any response from the Rashtrapati Bhavan, the BJP or Gautam.

Meeting with Ankita Bhandari’s parents

The Times of India and National Herald reported on 14 October 2026 that Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi met Ankita Bhandari’s parents at an India Gate protest site. Those reports placed the meeting within renewed political attention on the Uttarakhand case.

The meeting was also cited by Venugopal as evidence of the Congress leadership’s support for the family. He said the party and the INDIA alliance would continue to stand with Ankita’s parents.

a fresh court ruling, a new investigation finding or an updated legal decision in the case is not yet available. It records a political demand and allegations made by a senior Congress leader.

Uttarakhand relevance

The case remains politically significant in Uttarakhand because Venugopal said the state’s wider public sentiment was with Ankita Bhandari’s family. His statement framed the demand as one for justice and accountability in a case dating back to 2022.

For readers following the matter, the immediate development is the Congress request to the President. The next confirmed step will depend on whether the President’s office responds to the demand and whether any competent authority announces further action.

Conclusion

K.C. Venugopal has asked President Droupadi Murmu to withdraw Dushyant Gautam’s Sikkim governorship while alleging BJP protection of the accused in the 2022 Ankita Bhandari murder case. The available material confirms the political demand but records no response from the President’s office or the BJP.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What did K.C. Venugopal demand?

He demanded that the governorship be revoked and that the President withdraw the appointment.

Q. Which case was Venugopal discussing?

He was discussing the 2022 Ankita Bhandari murder case in Uttarakhand.

Q. Who is the governor whose appointment Venugopal wants withdrawn?

Reports cited in the background material identify him as Dushyant Gautam, the Governor of Sikkim.

Q. What allegation did Venugopal make against the BJP?

He alleged that the BJP was shielding the accused in the case. This remains an allegation made by Venugopal.

Q. Did Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi meet Ankita Bhandari’s parents?

Yes. Venugopal said they had met the parents, and reports by The Times of India and National Herald placed the meeting at an India Gate protest site.

Q. Has the President’s office responded to the demand?

No response from the President’s office is recorded in the available material.