In a sensational development, Delhi Police have booked 41-year-old Rajeshbhai Khimjibhai Sakariya for attempt to murder after his violent assault on Chief Minister Rekha Gupta during a public grievance programme on Wednesday morning. The FIR, registered at Civil Lines Police Station, invokes Sections 109(1), 132, and 221 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Police confirmed that Sakariya, a resident of Rajkot, Gujarat, has been taken into custody and is being interrogated by teams from the Delhi Police Special Cell and the Intelligence Bureau (IB). Investigators are expected to seek a 5–7-day custody remand to uncover the larger conspiracy.
CM Gupta was assaulted during her ‘Jan Sunwai’ programme at her Shalimar Bagh camp office, with her staff later issuing a statement that this was a “well-planned conspiracy to kill her”.
The Movement of the Accused Before the Attack
Reports revealed that Sakariya had reached Delhi from Rajkot by train on Tuesday morning and checked in at the Gujarati Bhawan in Civil Lines. During a phone call with a friend back in Gujarat, he claimed to have already reached the Chief Minister’s residence. Contrary to earlier speculation, Delhi Police clarified that Sakariya had no relatives lodged in jail and was not carrying any complaint letter or documents at the time of the attack.
A History-Sheeter with a Notorious Past
Rajeshbhai Sakariya is a known history-sheeter listed in the records of Rajkot’s Bhaktinagar Police Station. His criminal background reveals multiple serious cases:
GR No. 0215/2017 – IPC Sections 326, 504, 114 – Acquitted on 25 Nov 2019 (Case No. 198/2018).
Crime No. 1227/2020 – Prohibition Act Sections 65AA, 116B – Acquitted on 03 Nov 2023 (Case No. 21965/2020).
Crime No. 1591/2020 – Prohibition Act Sections 65AA, 116B – Acquitted on 25 Oct 2023 (Case No. 8067/2021).
Crime No. 0871/2022 – Prohibition Act Sections 6PI, 116B – Pending trial (Case No. 9551/2023), next hearing on 29 Sep 2025.
Crime No. 0072/2024 – IPC Sections 324, 323, 504, 114 & GP Act Section 135(1) – Acquitted on 07 Dec 2024 (Case No. 12586/2024).
This long trail of cases shows a man repeatedly booked in violent and prohibition-related offences, raising questions on how he managed to evade convictions in most instances.
MHA Steps In: Security of Delhi CM Under Review
In the aftermath of the shocking attack, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has decided to review Rekha Gupta’s security cover. She is currently under ‘Z’ category protection, provided by the Delhi Police as per the MHA’s Yellow Book security guidelines.
A senior Delhi Police officer said, “We are preparing a detailed incident report for submission to the MHA. Any lapses in the CM’s security arrangements will be immediately rectified.”
Political Reactions: “This Was Not an Ordinary Attack”
Delhi Minister Kapil Mishra termed the attack “an attempt to eliminate the Chief Minister”, alleging that Sakariya tried to “push Gupta down on the ground and beat her”. Opposition leaders, meanwhile, accused the BJP-led Centre of failing to provide adequate protection to a sitting Chief Minister in the national capital.
