TNR News Network
New Delhi
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta was allegedly attacked on Thursday (August 20, 2025) morning during a public grievance session at her official Civil Lines residence in the national capital.
As the Delhi Police dig deeper into the motives of the assailant, identified as Sakriya Rajeshbhai Khimjibhai, a 40-year-old man from Rajkot in Gujarat, a backstory is beginning to surface.
In a statement to the police, Rajesh’s mother claimed that the accused had long struggled with mental instability and had a history of violently lashing out at family members. “He would often get agitated over small issues and had physically attacked people at home in the past,” she reportedly told investigators.
While authorities have not yet confirmed his medical history, police sources say initial signs point toward psychological distress as a contributing factor in Thursday’s incident.
Stray dog row may have fuelled outburst
Another key angle being explored is Rajesh’s apparent distress over a recent Supreme Court directive on the removal of stray dogs from Delhi’s streets. According to officials familiar with the case, the accused’s mother said that he was upset about the move and believes this dog-related issue may have triggered the assault.
While no formal connection has been established between the Supreme Court ruling and Rajesh’s actions, the police are probing the possibility that he viewed the Chief Minister as responsible for enforcing the court order, a misperception that may have driven him to act out.
The attack occurred during a routine weekly ‘Jan Sunvai’ (public hearing), where citizens are allowed to raise concerns directly with the Chief Minister. According to eyewitnesses, Rajesh calmly approached Rekha Gupta, handed her a set of papers and then abruptly slapped her without any verbal provocation.
Rajesh was immediately restrained by security personnel and is currently being held at the Civil Lines police station. Investigators are conducting a psychiatric evaluation and verifying his background, including any history of treatment.
Ex-CM Arvind Kejriwal too was attacked
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) strongly condemned the assault. Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva said, “Violence against any elected representative is completely unacceptable. The law must take its course and security around public figures must be reviewed.”
This is not the first time a Delhi Chief Minister has been targeted. Rekha Gupta’s predecessor, Arvind Kejriwal, faced multiple attacks during his time in office, including being slapped and having ink thrown at him during public engagements.
