Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta was attacked on Wednesday morning during a Jan Sunwai (public hearing) at her Civil Lines Camp Office, near her official residence. The attacker, Rajeshbhai Khimjibhai Sakriya, 41, from Rajkot, Gujarat, reportedly entered the office posing as a complainant. Witnesses said he approached Gupta with papers in hand and attacked her around 8:30 AM, about half an hour after the session began.
Sakriya’s mother, Bhanu Khimji Sakriya, told reporters that her son, a dog lover, was angered by a Supreme Court order directing authorities in Delhi-NCR to remove stray dogs and place them in shelters. She described him as having mental health issues, which were not under treatment, and claimed he had a history of violent outbursts at home.
Police investigations revealed that Sakriya had been in Ujjain for temple prayers before coming to Delhi. Upon seeing Gupta’s posters and a social media reel where she spoke about stray dogs, he decided to attack her, according to senior police sources. He also has a criminal record in Rajkot, with five cases between 2017 and 2024, including charges of hurt, drunken misconduct, and intimidation.
Delhi Police Commissioner S B K Singh and senior officials reached the CM’s office immediately. DCP (North) Raja Banthia confirmed Sakriya’s arrest and said cases were registered under sections for attempted murder, assault on a public servant, and obstruction of a public servant. Multiple security agencies and Delhi Police interrogated the accused.
The FIR was filed by an Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) from the CM’s security team, who reported that Sakriya attacked Gupta, causing her to fall headfirst and endangering her life. Security personnel subdued the attacker, and Gupta was taken inside the office for safety.
In her first public statement, Gupta said the attack was an attempt to intimidate her but affirmed her commitment to serving the people of Delhi. “Such attacks cannot break my spirit or resolve. Public hearings will continue with the same dedication,” she wrote on X. Doctors conducted a medical examination, and CCTV footage from the office and her residence has been collected.
Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva and Cabinet colleague Kapil Mishra condemned the attack, highlighting its severity and potential premeditation, based on evidence from Sakriya’s mobile. Former CMs Arvind Kejriwal and Atishi also condemned the incident, emphasizing that violence has no place in a democracy.
This is not the first attack on a Delhi CM in public: in 2012, Sheila Dikshit faced a slipper attack, and Kejriwal has been physically assaulted multiple times during public rallies.