New Delhi, August 20: Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta was allegedly slapped and assaulted by a 41-year-old man from Gujarat during a public grievance meeting at her Civil Lines camp office on Wednesday morning. The incident occurred at a ‘Jan Sunwai’ programme, where the accused, identified as Rajesh Bhai Khimji of Rajkot, reportedly pulled the CM’s hair and hurled abuses before being restrained by security personnel.
Khimji was immediately taken into custody and is being questioned at the Civil Lines police station, officials said. Delhi Police, with assistance from Gujarat Police, are verifying his personal details and background.
While the motive remains under investigation, conflicting accounts have surfaced. According to Khimji’s family members, he was agitated over the stray dog menace in Delhi and the Supreme Court’s recent directive to the Delhi government to take stronger measures on the issue. At the same time, a News18 report suggested that Khimji had sought Gupta’s intervention in securing the release of a relative lodged in Tihar Jail. He allegedly presented documents regarding the matter before abruptly slapping the CM.
An eyewitness described the sudden turn of events at the public meeting. “We all were sitting. A person whose turn came sat with the CM… he was speaking with the CM and suddenly he attacked her. We heard a loud sound. And immediately the police detained the person,” the eyewitness said.
The Delhi BJP reacted sharply to the incident. Party spokesperson Praveen Shankar said Khimji’s political links, if any, are not yet clear. “He might be associated with a party unhappy with its standing in Delhi,” Shankar noted, though Khimji’s family has denied any such affiliations.
After visiting the Chief Minister, Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva told reporters that Gupta is recovering. “The CM is shaken, but she is doing fine,” he said.
Authorities have since heightened security at the Civil Lines camp office. The Ministry of Home Affairs has also been informed about the assault, officials confirmed.
