Ankita Bhandari murder: Delhi HC bars Congress, AAP, others from circulating allegations against BJP’s Dushyant Gautam

Delhi High Court on Wednesday granted ad-interim relief to BJP’s national general secretary Dushyant Kumar Gautam in connection with the allegations against him in Uttarakhand’s Ankita Bhandari case.

Hearing a defamation case filed by Dushyant Gautam, the court held that a prima facie case of defamation is made out and that continued circulation of allegations would cause irreparable harm.

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The court also restrained defendants, including INC, AAP, and several individuals, from publishing or circulating any content alleging Gautam as the “VIP” in the Ankita Bhandari case. It directed immediate removal of the impugned posts and videos from social media platforms, noting that the balance of convenience lies in the plaintiff’s favour.

Gautam moved the court after allegations that he was the ‘VIP’ mentioned in the Ankita Bhandari murder surfaced.

Ankita Bhandari, who worked as the receptionist at an Uttarakhand resort, was killed after she allegedly refused to grant sexual favours to ‘VIP’.

Ankita Bhandari murder case: Uttarakhand CM alleges conspiracy, calls for verification of ‘VIP’ audio clip

The allegations against Gautam began to circulate after a former BJP MLA’s wife released a purported audio conversation with her husband in which a perosn named ‘Gattu’ was identified as the VIP in the Ankita Bhandari case. It was speculated that the person was Gautam.

‘Truth has prevailed’: Dushyant Gautam after HC relief

Reacting to the high court relief, Dushyant Gautam said the truth has prevailed. “Truth always prevails, and we have full faith in the justice system because we trust that it works according to the Constitution,” he said.

The BJP leader said his party’s name was repeatedly brought up under some pressure. “I don’t know why, but I assume there is definitely animosity towards the party. Whether they admit it or not, there was pressure, and the BJP’s name was repeatedly brought up…which created suppression and difficulties.”