Sikkims Newly Appointed Governor Dushyant Kumar Gautam Arrives in Gangtok Ahead of Oath Ceremony

Gangtok, October 18: Dushyant Kumar Gautam, the newly appointed Governor of Sikkim, arrived in Gangtok on Sunday. He is set to take the oath of office on October 19, 2026, at Lok Bhawan. Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang welcomed him upon his arrival at Burtuk Helipad.

During the welcome ceremony, several dignitaries were present, including Rajkumari Thapa, the Vice President of the Sikkim Assembly, members of the council of ministers, legislators, and the Mayor and councilors of Gangtok Municipal Corporation. Senior government officials, including the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police, were also in attendance.

Responsibility Received Amidst Governor Transfers

On October 12, President Droupadi Murmu approved the appointment and transfer of governors across six states. As part of this reshuffle, former Sikkim Governor Om Prakash Mathur has been assigned to Kerala, while Dushyant Kumar Gautam takes over the responsibilities in Sikkim. This marks Gautam’s first term as a governor.

Call for Reconsideration of Appointment

This appointment comes at a time when the parents of Ankita Bhandari are protesting in Delhi, demanding that the appointment not proceed until a CBI investigation is completed. On October 15, Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, wrote to the President requesting a reconsideration of the appointment. On October 16, Ankita’s parents, Virendra Singh Bhandari and Soni Devi, met with senior officials at the CBI headquarters in Delhi, where the agency assured them of a fair and just investigation.

Ankita Bhandari was a 19-year-old receptionist at a resort near Rishikesh in Uttarakhand. She was murdered on September 18, 2022. The resort’s operator, Pulkit Arya, and two employees are currently serving life sentences. The Uttarakhand government recommended a CBI investigation on January 9, 2026, and the CBI registered the case in February.

No Names Listed in CBI FIR

The CBI’s FIR is against unknown individuals and does not name anyone specifically. Questions have been raised regarding the alleged involvement of a ‘VIP’ in the case, and the family continues to demand identification. In January 2026, the Delhi High Court issued an interim order on Dushyant Kumar Gautam’s defamation petition, directing the Congress and Aam Aadmi Party to remove social media posts linking him to the case.

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Ankita Bhandari Case: Rahul Gandhi Requests Reconsideration of Dushyant Gautam’s Appointment as Governor, Parents Meet CBI Officials

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Ganpat Singh Chouhan: My name is Ganpat Singh Choughan. I am an experienced content writer with 7 years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.