Rekha Gupta attack case: Delhi CM Rekha Gupta was assaulted by Rajesh Sakriya during a public hearing, second accused arrested.
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta faced a shocking assault during a public hearing last week. Police arrested Rajesh Sakriya, a 41-year-old resident of Rajkot, Gujarat, for the attack. Investigators revealed that Sakriya had originally planned to attack Ms Gupta with a knife. He dropped the plan after noticing heavy security. He then allegedly slapped, pushed, and pulled the Chief Minister’s hair during the Jan Sunwai meeting on August 20. Police also confirmed the arrest of a second accused, Tahseen Syed, who allegedly funded and guided Sakriya. The attack has raised concerns about both public safety and the deep anger around the stray dog issue in Delhi.
Police sources revealed that Sakriya attacked Ms Gupta after she allegedly ignored his appeals against removing stray dogs from Delhi. The Supreme Court recently ordered authorities to capture stray dogs in Delhi and neighboring regions and shift them to shelters away from residential areas. Sakriya even visited the Supreme Court premises but backed off after noticing tight security. He then shifted his focus to Ms Gupta’s residence in Shalimar Bagh but later moved to her Civil Lines office during the public hearing. There, he abandoned the knife and carried out a physical assault instead.
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Ms Gupta had acknowledged earlier that stray dog attacks were troubling Delhi residents. She called the problem formidable and said finding a solution was urgent. She assured citizens that her government would prepare a proper plan in response to the Supreme Court order. However, Sakriya’s violent act highlighted how emotionally charged the issue has become for many people in the capital.
On Sunday, Delhi Police arrested another accused in the Rekha Gupta attack case. Tahseen Syed, a friend of Sakriya from Rajkot, was brought to Delhi for questioning. Investigators found that Syed had sent Sakriya money before the incident. He also stayed in constant contact with him and even received a video of Ms Gupta’s residence in Shalimar Bagh. After confronting him with Sakriya, police took Syed into custody.
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Investigations also revealed Sakriya’s long criminal history while the police records show multiple cases against him, most of them linked to liquor smuggling in Gujarat, where alcohol sales remain banned. His background, combined with his violent attempt on the Chief Minister, raises fresh questions about how such individuals manage to operate freely despite their records.
