Delhi CM Rekha Gupta's attacker charged with attempt to murder case

Delhi Police have registered an attempt to murder case against a man who attacked Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta at her official residence in Civil Lines during a ‘Jan Sunwai’ (public hearing) programme. The accused, identified as 41-year-old Rajesh Sakriya from Rajkot, Gujarat, was immediately taken into police custody following the incident.

During the attack, Gupta was reportedly slapped and her hair pulled. BJP leaders described the incident as a “mishap” during jostling, noting that her head may have touched the edge of a table. Doctors examined her and confirmed she was stable, though the Chief Minister was visibly shaken. Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva said, “CM Gupta is shaken, but she is doing fine.”

The FIR was registered under Section 109(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Delhi Police confirmed that Sakriya has five prior criminal cases in Gujarat, including two assault cases involving a knife attack and three under the Excise Act. He is being interrogated jointly by the Intelligence Bureau, Delhi Police’s Special Cell, and other intelligence agencies.

Security personnel at the event overpowered the attacker and took him into custody. Leaders across party lines condemned the attack. AAP leader Atishi said she hoped the Chief Minister was safe and that police would take strict action against the guilty. The Ministry of Home Affairs is likely to review the CM’s security arrangements after receiving a detailed report from Delhi Police.

CM Rekha Gupta currently has ‘Z’ category security, as per the Ministry of Home Affairs’ guidelines outlined in the ‘Yellow Book’, which specifies protection protocols for VIPs and VVIPs. The incident has raised scrutiny over security arrangements at public programmes attended by high-ranking officials.