Delhi chief minister Rekha Gupta was attacked during her weekly Jan Sunwai (public hearing) event at her residence in Civil Lines on Wednesday. The accused, 41-year-old Rajesh Sakriya Khimjibhai, came from Rajkot, Gujarat, posing as a complainant. Police arrested him soon after the incident.
During interrogation, Rajesh told police that he acted because of the recent Supreme Court order on stray dogs in Delhi-NCR. According to ANI sources, he claimed it was “a matter of question of the lives of three lakh dogs in Delhi.” Police, however, are verifying this statement.
Delhi Police said they will take Rajesh to all locations he visited in the city. Officers are also in touch with the Rajkot Police to dig deeper into his background.
Past Criminal Record Emerges
Soon after the attack, Delhi minister Kapil Mishra alleged it was “a well-planned conspiracy” and called the accused a “professional criminal.”
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Police confirmed Rajesh has a history of five cases registered in Gujarat between 2017 and 2023. These include cases under IPC Section 326 (causing grievous hurt), Section 504 (intentional insult), and liquor prohibition laws. He was acquitted in four of them.
A Delhi Police officer said, “He is usually involved in bootlegging and assaults on known and unknown persons after getting drunk.”
Case Registered Against Him
Police have filed an attempt-to-murder case under Sections 109(1), 132, and 221 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Officials said Rajesh has been “misleading” them about the motive.
At first, he claimed he wanted justice for a relative in Tihar jail. Later, his family told police he had come to Delhi to support animal activists. They also said he was upset about the Supreme Court’s stray dog order. Police are still probing these conflicting claims.
Rekha Gupta Reacts
After the incident, Rekha Gupta posted on X, “This was a cowardly attempt not just on me, but on my government’s commitment to serve the people.”
She added that while she was shaken initially, she is recovering and will resume her duties soon.
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