The Delhi Police on Wednesday identified the man accused of attacking Chief Minister Rekha Gupta during a Jan Sunvai as Rajesh Khimji, reportedly a resident of Rajkot, Gujarat. Officials said his name and address are being verified through documents recovered from him.
According to sources, the accused had approached the CM with a plea seeking the release of his relative currently in jail. He was immediately apprehended and taken to Civil Lines police station for questioning.
Senior officials, including the Delhi Police Chief, Chief Secretary, and Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh, later reached the CM’s residence to take stock of the situation.
State BJP President Virendraa Sachdeva, who met the Chief Minister, said she was examined by doctors and is “stable.” He added, “The CM is a strong woman. She suffered a light blow to the head, but reports of slapping or stone-throwing are fabricated. Such incidents are condemnable, but the Jan Sunvai will continue. She has not cancelled any of her programs.”
Sachdeva recounted that the accused had first presented papers to the CM before grabbing her hand and attempting to pull her towards him, leading to a brief scuffle before being overpowered.
Reacting to the incident, Leader of Opposition Atishi condemned the attack, stating that violence has no place in a democracy. “The attack on Delhi’s Chief Minister Rekha Gupta is highly condemnable. In a democracy, there is space for disagreement and protest, but no place for violence. I hope the Delhi Police take strictest action against the culprits,” she said in a post on X.
Police investigations into the motive and background of the accused are ongoing.
