New Delhi– A CCTV video has surfaced, showing the individual accused of attacking Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta surveilling her Shalimar Bagh residence on August 19, one day prior to the assault, according to ANI. The incident occurred during a Jan Sunvai public hearing at Gupta’s Civil Lines residence, where the suspect, identified as 41-year-old Rajesh Khimji from Rajkot, Gujarat, allegedly attacked the chief minister.
The footage, released by the Chief Minister’s office, captures Khimji conducting a reconnaissance of Gupta’s home, indicating premeditated intent. Sources within the Delhi BJP reported that Khimji approached Gupta with documents before launching the attack. The suspect, who lives with his wife, son, and parents in Gokul Park, Rajkot, was detained by police following the incident.
Delhi Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh Varma stated that Khimji had been monitoring Gupta’s residence for 24 hours, spending the night in the nearby Civil Lines area before the assault. Varma emphasized that the suspect lacked any legitimate grievance and acted with intent. The accused’s mother claimed he had no political affiliations and was motivated by a protest against a Supreme Court ruling on stray dogs.
BJP parliamentarian Ramvir Singh Bidhuri called for an investigation into Khimji’s phone records to uncover potential conspiracies, questioning who might be threatened by Gupta’s governance achievements. Delhi Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa also suggested a political motive behind the attack, condemning it as a deliberate act against Gupta’s accessibility to the public.
The Delhi Police have filed an attempt-to-murder case against Khimji, who has a history of criminal charges in Rajkot, including grievous harm and liquor-related offenses. Authorities are probing whether he acted alone or as part of a larger plot, with CCTV evidence handed over for further investigation. Gupta, though shaken, sustained no major injuries and remains committed to her public engagement programs.