Congress leader Gurdeep Singh Sappal has disputed the claim that the Ankita Bhandari case has been closed, saying the legal process still leaves important questions unanswered.

Speaking in Delhi in a video carried by PTI Videos, Sappal said Dushyant Gautam had stated that the case was closed and that the accused had been punished. Sappal called that statement “completely false”.

His remarks are political allegations and were not accompanied in the material available with a response from Dushyant Gautam or the BJP.

What Sappal alleged

Sappal said 3 people were sentenced to life imprisonment after an investigation by a Special Investigation Team. He added that Dushyant Gautam’s name surfaced later, which, according to him, triggered protests across Uttarakhand.

Sappal further claimed that the protests led to a Central Bureau of Investigation probe in January. He alleged that the CBI had made no progress in 10 months.

The source material does not provide a CBI status report, a formal explanation for the alleged delay or details of any findings from the probe. The claim therefore remains attributed to Sappal.

Sappal also referred to a sequence involving Ankita Bhandari’s father and Gautam’s appointment as Governor. He said the CBI first contacted Bhandari’s father on October 9 and that Gautam was appointed Governor the following day.

The remarks do not establish that the 2 events were connected. No official statement confirming such a connection is included in the available material.

Questions over evidence

Sappal alleged that Ankita Bhandari’s WhatsApp chats were retrieved and submitted to the court, while Pulkit Arya’s phone records were not examined. He argued that those records could have helped establish which BJP leaders were involved and who allegedly ordered the destruction of evidence.

These are claims made by Sappal, not findings established by a court in the supplied material. The available report also does not provide details about the court record, the alleged evidence destruction or the identity of any person who may have been involved.

The case has continued to draw public and political attention in Uttarakhand. Recent reports published by The Times of India, Outlook India and the Free Press Journal on October 15, 2026, separately described protests involving Ankita Bhandari’s parents, including their detention and subsequent release, as well as an ultimatum seeking further action. Those reports provide background to the continuing dispute but do not independently establish Sappal’s allegations about the CBI investigation.

Sappal said he did not believe the public would remain silent until justice was delivered. The next verified development would require an official account of the CBI probe, its progress and the status of the issues he raised.

Conclusion

Sappal has challenged the description of the Ankita Bhandari case as closed and called for answers about the later CBI probe and evidence-related questions. The available material establishes his allegations, but not the disputed claims as proven facts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What did Gurdeep Singh Sappal say about the case?

Sappal said the claim that the Ankita Bhandari case was closed was “completely false” and argued that unanswered questions remained.

Q. How many people were sentenced to life imprisonment?

Sappal said 3 people were sentenced to life imprisonment after an SIT investigation.

Q. When did Sappal say the CBI probe began?

He said the CBI probe began in January after protests across Uttarakhand.

Q. What progress did Sappal allege had been made by the CBI?

Sappal alleged that the CBI had made no progress in 10 months.

Q. What evidence did Sappal say was not examined?

He alleged that Pulkit Arya’s phone records were not examined, while Ankita Bhandari’s WhatsApp chats were retrieved and submitted to the court.

Q. Did the available material confirm Sappal’s allegations?

No. The material presents them as allegations by Sappal and does not include an official response or court finding confirming them.