A man who allegedly attacked Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta during her weekly public grievance hearing has been identified as Sakriya Rajesh Bhai Khimji Bhai, a 41-year-old resident of Rajkot, Gujarat. The incident, which occurred on Wednesday morning at the Chief Minister’s official residence in Civil Lines, has prompted a major security review and sparked a political outcry.
According to Delhi Police sources, Sakriya was immediately taken into custody and is currently being interrogated. Investigators found documents in his possession related to a relative who is currently lodged in Tihar Jail. Preliminary reports suggest that Sakriya was seeking the Chief Minister’s help to secure his relative’s release. Delhi Police have contacted their counterparts in Gujarat to verify his identity and address.
The incident unfolded during CM Gupta’s “Jan Sunwai” (public hearing) session, which began at 7 a.m. Eyewitness accounts differ slightly on the exact sequence of events. According to some, Sakriya approached the Chief Minister, handed her a document, and then allegedly slapped her, pulled her hair, and hurled abuses before being restrained by security personnel. Other reports from Delhi BJP chief Virendraa Sachdeva and other sources, however, claim the man tried to grab Gupta’s hand and pull her, causing a scuffle in which she may have hit her head. Sachdeva dismissed reports of a slap or a thrown object as “incorrect and exaggerated.”
The Chief Minister’s Office quickly released a statement confirming the attack and that the accused had been apprehended. A medical check-up was conducted on the Chief Minister, who is reported to be stable but in shock. The attack has been widely condemned by leaders across the political spectrum, including Delhi BJP chief Virendraa Sachdeva and former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, who called for strict action against the perpetrator.
The incident has raised serious concerns about security protocols during public meetings, as such events typically attract hundreds of citizens. Following the assault, additional security was deployed at the Chief Minister’s residence, and a review of the security measures for future “Jan Sunwai” sessions is underway.