CCTV footage shows accused Rajesh Khimji near CM Rekha Gupta’s Shalimar Bagh residence.
The attack on Delhi CM Rekha Gupta has exposed both a security gap and an unusual motive. CCTV footage released by her office shows the accused, Rajesh Khimji, surveying her Shalimar Bagh residence on August 19, a day before the incident. He later attacked her during a Jan Sunvai event.
What makes this case stand out is the claim by his family that his act was not politically driven but linked to anger over a Supreme Court order on stray dogs. This odd mix of politics, security, and personal grievance gives the incident a disturbing dimension.
The footage confirms that the accused spent nearly 24 hours tracking the chief minister’s movements. Delhi minister Parvesh Sahib Singh Varma said Khimji conducted a recce of Gupta’s residence and even stayed overnight in Civil Lines before reaching her the next morning.
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According to Varma, the attacker carried no papers during the event and struck as soon as he met the chief minister. The revelation raises questions about the preparedness of security forces and the ease with which an individual reached the CM.
On August 20, Khimji approached Gupta during the public hearing. According to BJP sources, he first handed her some papers before allegedly attacking her.
Police detained him immediately and took him to the Civil Lines police station for questioning. Senior officials, including the Delhi Police Commissioner and the Chief Secretary, rushed to Gupta’s residence soon after.
In Rajkot, Gujarat, the accused’s mother, Bhanuben Sakaria, defended her son. She said Rajesh was an auto-rickshaw driver who lived with his wife, son, and parents. She denied any political affiliation and instead described him as an animal lover.
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According to her, he was upset over the Supreme Court’s order to move stray dogs into shelters. She said he had earlier visited Haridwar and later told his family that he was going to Delhi to join protests in support of dogs.
The attacker’s mother’s explanation brings a strange twist. If her account is true, an animal rights grievance pushed him to a violent act against an elected leader. This adds a new angle to how personal frustration can spill into political spaces.
While opposition and ruling parties may make charges, the bigger concern is still remains public safety and this attack on CM Gupta shows how security gaps leave leaders vulnerable, and how personal causes can sometimes turn violent in unpredictable ways.
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