Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta was attacked on Wednesday morning during a Jan Sunwai (public hearing) at her Civil Lines Camp Office, located adjacent to her official residence. The incident has triggered a major security review and political outrage.
According to Delhi Police, the accused has been identified as Rajeshbhai Khimjibhai Sakriya, 41, a resident of Rajkot, Gujarat. He allegedly entered the CM’s office posing as a complainant and launched the assault around 8:30 am, just 30 minutes after the public meeting began.
Eyewitnesses and a police complaint filed by the CM’s security detail stated that Sakriya approached Gupta with papers in hand before suddenly attacking her, causing her to fall to the ground. “Her life was in danger as she fell headfirst,” the ASI mentioned in his FIR. The accused was overpowered on the spot by security personnel and members of the public.
Preliminary investigations suggest that Sakriya, described by his family as a dog lover with mental health issues, was upset over a recent Supreme Court order on stray dogs in Delhi-NCR. His mother told reporters in Rajkot that her son had a history of violent outbursts and had previously assaulted family members. “He said he was going to Delhi for the dogs… He gets very angry and has no control,” she claimed.
Police sources revealed that Sakriya had watched reels and seen posters of Gupta addressing the stray dog issue, after which he allegedly decided to target her. His phone contained videos and photos of Gupta’s residences and offices, raising concerns of a premeditated attack.
Rajkot police confirmed that Sakriya has five prior cases registered against him between 2017 and 2024, including charges of assault, drunken misconduct, and criminal intimidation. Following Wednesday’s attack, Delhi Police arrested him and registered a case under attempt to murder, assaulting a public servant, and obstructing duty. Multiple security agencies are now interrogating him to rule out a larger conspiracy.
In her first public statement after the incident, CM Gupta described the attack as a cowardly attempt to derail her work. “This was not just an attack on me, but on our commitment to serve Delhi. Such acts will never break my spirit. I will return to public service with even more energy,” she posted on X.
Doctors conducted her medical examination at her residence and declared her stable, though shaken. A team of senior police officers also visited her to reconstruct the sequence of events, and CCTV footage from multiple locations has been seized.
Delhi Police Commissioner S. B. K. Singh rushed to the spot along with senior officials. Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva, who met Gupta after the attack, said she was “in shock but stable.” Cabinet colleague Kapil Mishra termed it a “serious conspiracy,” citing recovered videos of reconnaissance from the accused’s phone.
Investigations are ongoing, with police examining Sakriya’s movements before the incident, including a recent trip to Ujjain for temple prayers. Authorities are also analyzing whether he acted alone or under influence.
(This story is published from a syndicated feed)