Who is Rajesh Bhai Sakriya? The man from Gujarat who attacked Delhi CM Rekha Gupta

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta’s routine Jan Sunwai (public hearing) at her residence on Wednesday took an unexpected and disturbing turn when she was allegedly attacked by a man posing as a complainant.

Eyewitnesses told News18 that around 8 am, the man approached Gupta with a document, shouted at her, and then allegedly slapped her, hurled abuses and even pulled her hair. Security personnel quickly intervened, and the CM was rushed to the hospital.

The attacker was later identified as Rajesh Bhai Khimji Bhai Sakriya, a resident of Gujarat’s Rajkot. He is currently being interrogated by the Delhi Police.

The shocking incident has raised sharp questions about the security arrangements around the chief minister, while also triggering strong political reactions across party lines.

So what exactly happened? Why did Sakariya target the CM? Here’s a closer look

How the attack on Delhi CM unfolded

Delhi CM Rekha Gupta was meeting residents at her new Civil Lines residence on Wednesday morning as part of a regular Jansunwai (public hearing) session, during which she hears their grievances.

According to News18, the incident took place around 8 am when Sakariya, carrying some court papers, allegedly entered the CM’s Camp Office posing as a complainant. He stood in the queue with others.

He then broke the line and reportedly began shouting during the conversation with the CM, and then attacked her. Some eyewitnesses told NDTV that he appeared to be drunk, though this has not been confirmed by the authorities.

Delhi BJP chief Virendraa Sachdeva told News18 that the man tried to drag Gupta by the hand, which led to a scuffle. He added that during this, her head may have struck a corner. She was soon rushed to the hospital for a medical check-up.

The Chief Minister’s Office later issued a statement confirming the incident: “Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta was attacked today during a public grievance hearing. The Delhi Police promptly took the accused into custody and are interrogating him.”

Police officials said they are verifying the attacker’s details with the help of authorities in Gujarat. In the meantime, additional security has been deployed at the Chief Minister’s residence.

According to NDTV sources from Delhi Police, an inquiry will be conducted to find what led to this big security breach. Delhi Police Commissioner SBK Singh is expected to monitor this probe.

Who is Sakriya Rajesh Bhai?

According to a News18 report, the accused has been identified as 41-year-old Sakriya Rajesh Bhai Khimji Bhai, a resident of Rajkot in Gujarat.

Delhi Police have reached out to his family. Speaking to the media, his mother, Bhanu Ben, described him as a dog lover who was disturbed by the Supreme Court’s recent order to round up stray dogs in Delhi-NCR and shift them to shelters.

“My son is an animal lover and was deeply disturbed by the issue related to dogs. That is why he went to Delhi,” she told the outlet

However, several reports suggest a different motive. According to these accounts, Sakriya had gone to the public meeting to seek the chief minister’s help after one of his relatives was arrested and lodged in Tihar Jail. He was believed to be carrying court-related documents with him, though an official statement from Delhi Police is still awaited.

Sources told News18, Sakriya has as many as five criminal cases registered against him in Gujarat, including charges of causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons and abettment to suicide.

Some reports also alleged that the accused had been conducting surveillance for nearly 24 hours before the incident, and had even gone as far as visiting the Chief Minister’s residence.

How is Rekha Gupta now?

Delhi BJP chief Virendraa Sachdeva confirmed that Gupta is “shaken” but out of danger.

“Doctors have confirmed that Gupta is stable but in shock. She remains determined to continue her daily work and Jan Sunwai sessions. She is a strong woman with a clear commitment to Delhi,” he told News18.

For now, she is resting, but has made it clear that she will not cancel her scheduled programmes, Sachdeva added.

The unexpected attack on the Delhi CM has drawn sharp condemnation from political leaders across party lines.

Leader of Opposition and former CM Atishi said, “In a democracy, there is a place for disagreement and protest, but there is no place for violence.”

दिल्ली की मुख्यमंत्री रेखा गुप्ता पर हुआ हमला बेहद निंदनीय है। लोकतंत्र में असहमति और विरोध की जगह होती है, लेकिन हिंसा के लिए कोई जगह नहीं है।

उम्मीद है कि दिल्ली पुलिस दोषियों पर कड़ी से कड़ी कार्रवाई करेगी। आशा है मुख्यमंत्री पूरी तरह सुरक्षित हैं। https://t.co/I0olIy2opH

— Atishi (@AtishiAAP) August 20, 2025

AAP supremo and former CM  Arvind Kejriwal also took to X, writing, “The attack on Delhi’s Chief Minister Rekha Gupta is highly condemnable. In a democratic system, differences of opinion and opposition are acceptable, but there can be no place for violence.”

दिल्ली की मुख्यमंत्री रेखा गुप्ता पर हुआ हमला बेहद निंदनीय है। लोकतांत्रिक व्यवस्था में विचारों का मतभेद और विरोध स्वीकार्य है, लेकिन हिंसा के लिए कोई स्थान नहीं हो सकता।

मुझे विश्वास है कि दिल्ली पुलिस उचित कार्रवाई करेगी। आशा है कि मुख्यमंत्री पूरी तरह सुरक्षित और स्वस्थ हों।

— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) August 20, 2025

Delhi Congress chief Devender Yadav echoed the condemnation but turned the spotlight on law and order. “If the Chief Minister of Delhi is not safe, then how can a common man or a common woman remain safe?” he asked.

#WATCH | On an attack on Delhi CM Rekha Gupta during Jan Sunvai at CM Residence, Delhi Congress chief Devender Yadav says, “This is very unfortunate. CM leads the entire Delhi, and I think that the more such incidents are condemned, the less it is. But this incident also exposes… pic.twitter.com/TJ2jOsx9jc

— ANI (@ANI) August 20, 2025

With input from agencies

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