Attack on Delhi CM Rekha Gupta: Accused seen in CCTV video 'doing recce'; CMO claims larger conspiracy

NEW DELHI: CCTV visuals show an individual, identifying himself as Rajesh Khimji, conducting a recce of chief minister Rekha Gupta’s Shalimar Bagh residence on August 19. The same man was nabbed by police on Wednesday after he attacked the CM during a Jan Sunvai.According to the Delhi CMO, a man attempted to assault CM Rekha Gupta while she was interacting with citizens. “The accused has been nabbed by Delhi Police and is being questioned,” the CMO said in a statement. Following the incident, CM Gupta was taken to a hospital for a medical examination.

A senior cop said, “During the spot interrogation by intelligence bureau, the man claimed his name was Rajesh Bhai Khimji Bhai Sakriya and he was 41-years-old.”

He further claimed to be a resident of Rajkot. Police have contacted Gujarat Police to verify his details and antecedents. An eyewitness told that Gupta was “completely in shock” after the incident. “She was listening to grievances when we suddenly heard noise from behind. By the time we turned, the police had already taken the attacker away,” the eyewitness added. Shailendra Kumar, another eyewitness, said: “I had come from Uttam Nagar with a complaint over sewer.

When I reached the gates, chaos broke out because the CM was slapped. This is wrong...”

Delhi minister Parvesh Sahib Singh stated, "Now, it has been found out that that person was doing a recce for 24 hours to find out how to meet the Chief Minister. He even did recce till CM Rekha Gupta house in Shalimar Bagh. Yesterday, he spent the night in the nearby Civil Lines area and when he came today morning, he did not have any papers in his hand.

There was no such issue and he attacked as soon as he met her."Delhi BJP chief Virendraa Sachdeva said that the CM’s condition is “stable” and she was examined by the doctors. He added that Gupta is a “strong” woman and has not cancelled her programs. Sachdeva said that a man approached her and presented her papers during the Jan Sunvai on Wednesday morning. “The accused tried to pull CM Gupta towards him, following which there was a little ‘jostling’,” he said. The Civil Lines residence is a designated weekly venue where the CM meets citizens to hear grievances. Condemning the incident, Delhi Congress chief Devender Yadav said: “This is very unfortunate. If the CM of Delhi is not safe, how can a common man or woman be safe?”(With agency inputs)