Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta was attacked during a ‘Jan Sunwai’ programme at her camp office in Civil Lines on Wednesday morning, her office said, terming the assault part of a “well-planned conspiracy to kill her”.
The accused, Sakriya Rajeshbhai Khimjibhai, a 41-year-old resident of Rajkot (Gujarat), was detained, and is being jointly interrogated by IB and Delhi Police’s Special Cell, according to a senior police officer.
The attack took place around 8.15 am, he said.
PWD Minister Parvesh Verma said that the chief minister has sustained injuries to her hand, shoulder and head.
A senior police official, who is privy to the probe, said that it was a serious attack, adding that it could have been life threatening.
“We are doing a joint interrogation with the IB, Special Cell and intelligence agencies. He had five criminal cases, including two assault cases involving knife attack and three under Excise Act,” the official told PTI.
He said that police have not charged him with conspiracy yet.
The accused was not carrying any weapon because he knew that there would be strict checking.
He was carrying a bag containing clothes and some papers.
Police have registered an FIR under attempt to murder charges in connection with the attack.
A case under section 109(1) [attempt to murder] of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) has been lodged at the Civil Lines police station, Deputy Commissioner of Police (North) Raja Banthia said in a statement.
He has also been booked for allegedly assaulting and obstructing public.
Former Delhi chief minister and Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Atishi also condemned the incident and expressed hope that the chief minister was safe and that the police would take strong action against the guilty.
Former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal also condemned the attack on Gupta. Kejriwal stressed in a post on X that while differences of opinion and opposition are acceptable in a democracy, there can be no place for violence.
“I am confident that Delhi Police will take appropriate action. I hope the chief minister remains completely safe and healthy,” Kejriwal wrote.
