New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta was assaulted during a public hearing programme at her Civil Lines camp office on Wednesday morning, in what her office termed a “well-planned conspiracy to kill her.”

The incident occurred around 8:15 am. The accused, identified as 41-year-old Sakriya Rajeshbhai Khimjibhai, a resident of Rajkot in Gujarat, has been detained by police and is being interrogated. “A person attacked Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta during Jan Sunwai today. Delhi Police has detained the accused and is questioning him,” the Chief Minister’s Office said in a statement.

Citing CCTV evidence, investigators believe the assault was premeditated. Surveillance footage from Gupta’s Shalimar Bagh residence reportedly showed the accused monitoring her premises at least 24 hours before the attack.

Past Attacks on Delhi Chief Ministers

This is not the first time a Delhi Chief Minister has come under attack. Similar incidents have been reported in recent years:

  • November 30, 2024: Former CM Arvind Kejriwal had water thrown at him during a padyatra in Malviya Nagar. The attacker, Ashok Jha, was detained on the spot. The AAP accused the BJP of backing the assault.
  • May 4, 2019: Arvind Kejriwal was slapped during a roadshow in Moti Nagar by a man named Suresh, a spare parts dealer. AAP supporters alleged political motives behind the incident.
  • October 5, 2016: In Bikaner, Rajasthan, ink was thrown at Kejriwal during a condolence meet. The accused, linked to ABVP, called him “anti-national.”
  • October 12, 2012: Former CM Sheila Dikshit faced protests by India Against Corruption activists in Nand Nagri. A slipper was hurled in her direction, but missed. Protesters were briefly detained.

With Wednesday’s incident, concerns about the security of Delhi’s chief ministers have once again come into sharp focus. 

Attacker of Delhi CM Rekha Gupta Upset Over Stray Dog Ruling, Claims Family

The man who attacked Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Wednesday has been identified as 41-year-old Rajesh Sakriya, a resident of Rajkot in Gujarat.

According to Delhi Police sources, Sakriya’s family has been contacted, and his mother, Bhanu, told reporters that her son was deeply upset over the Supreme Court’s recent order to round up stray dogs in Delhi-NCR and shift them to shelters.

“My son loves dogs. He was angry after the Supreme Court’s order against stray dogs. And left for Delhi soon after. We don’t know anything else,” Bhanu told the media.

Some reports also suggest that Sakriya had gone to the Jan Sunwai programme seeking the Chief Minister’s intervention after a relative was arrested, though this is yet to be confirmed by police.