Ex–Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned in late July. Now Kapil Sibal says he’s “incommunicado,” urging Amit Shah to clarify his whereabouts. What we know, what we don’t, and what comes next.
New Delhi | Updated: August 10, 2025 (IST) — A month after Jagdeep Dhankhar stepped down as Vice President, a single, unsettling question is ricocheting through Delhi’s power corridors: where is he? Senior advocate and Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal publicly claimed over the weekend that the former Vice President has been “incommunicado” since his resignation and urged Union Home Minister Amit Shah to make an on-record statement about Dhankhar’s whereabouts and well-being. The remark—delivered with the barbed coinage “laapataa VP,” a riff on a popular film title—has detonated into a broader political storm and a swirl of speculation online and off. www.ndtv.com
What triggered the alarm
Sibal told reporters that neither he nor several opposition leaders have been able to reach Dhankhar since the latter exited office in late July, despite repeated attempts. He went so far as to float the idea of moving a habeas corpus petition—an extraordinary legal step used to compel the state to produce a person before a court—if answers don’t emerge soon. His call was blunt: the Home Minister should set the record straight. The Times of India
The facts we can verify right now
Dhankhar resigned as Vice President in the third week of July, citing health reasons. The Vice President’s official website currently reflects a vacancy in the office as of July 22, 2025. Meanwhile, early polls to choose his successor are slated for September 9, 2025, setting a compressed political timetable. These details are official and public; what isn’t public is Dhankhar’s current location or any fresh health bulletin since his resignation. Vice President of IndiaThe Times of IndiaWikipedia
The political echo chamber gets loud
Sibal’s comments have quickly drawn amplifiers. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut, in a weekly column, claimed MPs couldn’t reach Dhankhar either and sensationally suggested he might even be under “house arrest”—an allegation without corroborating evidence from authorities, but one that adds accelerant to the political narrative. Across television studios and social media reels, the “laapataa VP” line has become a headline writer’s catnip. The Indian Express
Timeline: From resignation to questions
- July 21–22, 2025: Dhankhar submits his resignation, effective immediately, saying he must prioritize health and follow medical advice. The official Vice President portal shows the office vacant from July 22. The Times of India
- Late July–early August: No substantive public appearances or verified statements from Dhankhar. Media coverage centers on the surprise exit and the procedural steps that follow. www.ndtv.com
- August 9–10: Kapil Sibal publicly asks “Where is Dhankhar?” and nudges the Home Minister to issue a statement; talk of a possible habeas corpus surfaces. www.ndtv.com
- September 9 (scheduled): Early Vice Presidential election to fill the vacancy. Wikipedia
What the law says—and why “habeas corpus” is a big deal
Habeas corpus is a constitutional safeguard against unlawful detention. For a senior parliamentarian and veteran lawyer to even rhetorically invoke it hints at the gravity of concern in some political quarters. Crucially, however, a petition like that rests on evidence that a person is being held or prevented from communicating. As of publication, no such evidence has been publicly presented; Sibal’s statement functions as a prod for transparency rather than a legal filing. The Times of India
Government response? Silence so far
As of this report, there has been no formal on-record statement from the Union Home Ministry about Dhankhar’s present location or condition, nor any official medical update released in the public domain since his resignation. Should the Home Minister or the Vice President’s Secretariat issue a clarification, it would decisively drain the rumor mill—precisely the outcome Sibal says he wants. The Economic Times
The fevered rumor economy—and what we won’t do
Political rumor loves a vacuum. But a vacuum isn’t proof. Until there’s verifiable information—from Dhankhar himself, his office, family, or the government—claims about coercion, confinement, or deliberate seclusion remain unverified and should be treated with caution. This newsroom is monitoring official channels and will update the story the moment credible facts land on the record. Vice President of India
What’s next
Procedurally, India moves toward an early Vice Presidential election on September 9, even as parties joust for narrative control over Dhankhar’s post-resignation quietude. Politically, the stakes are larger than a single mystery: they touch transparency norms, the dignity of high constitutional office, and a country’s right to timely, factual updates about its former No. 2. For now, one line captures the moment: the search is for clarity as much as for a man. Wikipedia
