Rahul Gandhi Seeks Delay in Gautam’s Sikkim Appointment

Rahul Gandhi has asked President Droupadi Murmu to urge the government to reconsider Dushyant Kumar Gautam’s appointment as Sikkim governor and defer his assumption of office until the Central Bureau of Investigation completes its inquiry into the alleged VIP connection to Ankita Bhandari’s 2022 murder. Gandhi made the request in a letter and a social media appeal on October 15. He argued that Gautam should not take office while the investigation is underway, citing the legal protections afforded to a sitting governor from criminal proceedings. His request is an appeal to the President; the supplied information does not indicate that the appointment has been changed or that Gautam has taken office. Bhandari’s family has also called for the appointment to be put on hold and has alleged that Gautam was connected to the case. Those allegations have not been established in court. Gautam has denied them and filed defamation proceedings against people and organisations linking him to the murder. The CBI investigation into the alleged VIP angle remains underway, and no completion date has been reported. The family’s demand and Gandhi’s appeal center on whether the inquiry can clarify...