{
  "id": 14625200,
  "title": "'They silence voices of victims': Rahul slams detention of Ankita Bhandari's parents",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/15/they-silence-voices-of-victims-rahul-slams-detention-of-ankita",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-15T05:48:15.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Times of India",
    "slug": "times-of-india",
    "url": "https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/they-silence-voices-of-victims-rahul-kharge-slam-detention-of-ankita-bhandaris-parents/articleshow/134958558.cms"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi vehemently condemned the detention of Ankita Bhandari's parents while they protested against Dushyant Gautam's appointment as Sikkim Governor. Gandhi stated that the Congress Party would stand by the family until they received justice, emphasizing that their fight would not be silenced or stopped.\n\nGandhi recounted how Ankita Bhandari's parents had been sleeping while the world slumbered, only to be taken into custody at 4 AM by Delhi Police. Their alleged crime? Quietly sitting at India Gate, demanding Gautam's appointment be delayed until a CBI probe into Ankita's murder concluded. Gandhi accused the government of silencing voices of victims and removing those who question decisions.\n\nEarlier, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge labeled the action as the \"pinnacle of the Modi government's cowardice and insensitivity.\" Kharge criticized the centre for detaining the grieving parents while rewarding a BJP VIP with a gubernatorial post. He emphasized that such treatment is shameful and a reflection of the government's attempt to evade questions.\n\nAnkita Bhandari was murdered on September 18, 2022, and her body discovered on September 24, 2022. The family, along with opposition leaders and protesters, demanded that Gautam's appointment be halted until the ongoing CBI investigation into Ankita's murder concluded. Virendra Singh Bhandari, Ankita's father, threatened nationwide protests if his son-in-law's appointment was not canceled within 24 hours.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}