Uttarakhand receptionist murder links cloud Dushyant Kumar Gautam’s appointment as Sikkim governor

Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF), the main Opposition in the state headed by former chief minister Pawan Chamling, protested against the appointment of the BJP's former Uttarakhand minder, Dushyant Kumar Gautam, as the Himalayan state's new governor, following allegations that he was a "VIP" who sought favours from a receptionist in an Uttarakhand resort before she was killed in 2022.

At a news meet in Siliguri on Friday, the SDF questioned how a person facing such allegations could be suitable for a constitutional post.

The resort, Vanantara, was owned by BJP leader Vinod Arya, who was later suspended from the party. In Uttarakhand, Arya used to chair the state pottery board with the rank of a minister of state. Allegedly, Arya’s son Pulkit and two managers of the resort had pressured the 19-year-old receptionist to give “sexual service” to some visiting VIPs and killed her when she refused to oblige. Gautam, then BJP national general secretary and party minder for Uttarakhand, was apparently one such VIP.

Last year, television actress and former BJP leader Urmila Sanawar linked Gautam to the case. Gautam, who has not been named as an accused in the murder case, called Sanawar’s claims a “political vendetta” and filed a defamation case against her.

SDF spokesperson Yojna Khaling Rai said the party opposed Gautam as the state's governor.

“The governor holds one of the highest constitutional offices in a state and has important responsibilities relating to legislative, executive and financial matters. We condemn the appointment of a controversial person to such a responsible post,” Rai said.

Rai said the SDF stood in solidarity with the victim’s parents and would continue to support their demand for justice.

She appealed to members of the Sikkim Legislative Assembly to boycott the oath-taking ceremony of Gautam as governor.

SDF leaders also supported the ongoing Delhi movement seeking chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's resignation.

The party raised concerns over alleged irregularities in the 2024 Sikkim Assembly elections and called for President’s rule ahead of the next Assembly polls.

“There were irregularities during the 2024 Assembly elections (in Sikkim), but the EC did not take any steps (against them). We demand that the next Assembly elections in Sikkim be conducted under President’s rule,” said Ramesh Kirat, an SDF leader.