Dushyant Kumar Gautam Sworn In as Sikkim Governor Amid Protests
Dushyant Kumar Gautam took the oath as Governor of Sikkim despite opposition protests and legal objections over his alleged links to a 2022 murder case.
Despite widespread protests and legal objections, Dushyant Kumar Gautam was sworn in as the 21st Governor of Sikkim on October 19, 2026. The oath was administered by Sikkim Chief Justice A Muhamed Mustaque following days of tension involving opposition parties and legal bodies.
The controversy stems from the 2022 murder of Ankita Bhandari in Rishikesh, Uttarakhand. While resort owner Pulkit Arya and two associates received life sentences in 2025, allegations persist regarding a VIP guest who allegedly demanded sexual services from Bhandari. In December 2025, recordings released by Urmila Sanawar purportedly identified Gautam, then a BJP National General Secretary, as that guest. Gautam has denied these claims as baseless and initiated defamation proceedings, noting he was not named in the official chargesheet.
Opposition parties, including the Congress and the Sikkim Democratic Front, demanded that President Droupadi Murmu recall Gautam pending a Central Bureau of Investigation probe. The Bar Association of Sikkim also urged the president to defer the swearing-in, arguing that the immunity granted by Article 361 of the Constitution upon taking the oath would create a constitutional impasse and stall transparency. Protests also occurred at India Gate in New Delhi, led by the victim's parents, prior to the appointment.
