Guwahati: The parents of Ankita Bhandari, the 19-year-old receptionist murdered in Uttarakhand in 2022, were detained while protesting at India Gate in New Delhi against the appointment of BJP national general secretary Dushyant Kumar Gautam as Sikkim governor. They were released on Thursday morning, according to reports.

The family has repeatedly called for an investigation into Gautam’s alleged links to the case. Gautam, who was appointed governor on October 12, has been accused by the family of being the alleged “VIP” whose role they want investigated. The allegations have not been established in court.

The Bhandaris began a sit-in at India Gate on Wednesday to demand the cancellation of Gautam’s appointment. Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra met the family at the protest site.

After the two Congress leaders left, several other party leaders remained at the sit-in. They included Congress media and publicity department head Pawan Khera, social media department head Supriya Shrinate, Lok Sabha MP Jothimani Sennimalai and Indian Youth Congress president Uday Bhanu Chib. They were also detained and later released, reports said.

According to accounts, Ankita’s parents were taken into custody at around 4.05 am on Thursday.

Ankita’s father was quoted as giving the government a 24-hour ultimatum to cancel Gautam’s appointment, warning that nationwide protests would follow if the demand was not accepted.

Reacting to the detention, Rahul Gandhi alleged that the family had been taken into custody for peacefully demanding that Gautam’s appointment be reconsidered until the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) completed its probe.

In a post on X, Gandhi said the family had been sitting quietly at India Gate and accused the government of silencing people seeking accountability. He said the Congress would continue to support the family in its demand for justice.

Ankita was working as a receptionist at the Vanantra Resort in Rishikesh when she was murdered on September 18, 2022. Resort owner Pulkit Arya, son of former BJP leader Vinod Arya, and his accomplices, resort manager Saurabh Bhaskar and assistant manager Ankit Gupta, were convicted in the case.

The family’s demand for further investigation has centred on allegations about the involvement of an influential “VIP” guest. The Wire has reported on allegations that Ankita was killed after refusing to provide “special services” to a VIP guest, and on claims by the family and others that Gautam was the person referred to. These allegations remain distinct from the convictions secured in the murder case.

A fact-finding team involving members of the Uttarakhand Mahila Manch and representatives of women’s groups and mass organisations had also raised questions about the police investigation, The Wire reported.

The family’s protest followed Gautam’s appointment as Sikkim governor on October 12. They are demanding that the appointment be cancelled while the alleged VIP angle is investigated.