Attack on Delhi CM: CCTV shows accused ‘doing recce’; CMO alleges larger conspiracy; attempt-to-murder charge invoked

NEW DELHI: CCTV visuals released by the Delhi CMO on Wednesday showed a man who allegedly attacked CM Rekha Gupta during a 'Jan Sunwai' event at her residence. The man, who was later nabbed by the police, identified himself as Rajesh Khimji.In the video, the the man can be seen 'conducting a recce' of chief minister Rekha Gupta’s Shalimar Bagh residence on August 19.Also Read | Upset over SC order on stray dogs? Man who 'attacked' Delhi CM Rekha Gupta did 'recce' of her home; how the incident unfoldedAccording to the Delhi CMO, a man tried to assault CM Rekha Gupta while she was interacting with citizens.“The accused has been nabbed by Delhi Police and is being questioned,” the CMO said in a statement. Following the incident, CM Gupta was taken to a hospital for a medical examination.Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh echoed the statement. "Now, it has been found out that that person was doing a recce for 24 hours to find out how to meet the chief minister. He even did recce till CM Rekha Gupta's house in Shalimar Bagh. Yesterday, he spent the night in the nearby Civil Lines area and when he came today morning, he did not have any papers in his hand. There was no such issue and he attacked as soon as he met her."Also Read | Delhi Police register attempt to murder case after attack on CM Rekha Gupta; suspect in custody, probe onDelhi BJP chief Virendraa Sachdeva said that the CM’s condition is “stable” and she was examined by the doctors. He added that Gupta is a “strong” woman and has not cancelled her programs.Sachdeva said that a man approached her and presented her papers during the Jan Sunvai on Wednesday morning. “The accused tried to pull CM Gupta towards him, following which there was a little ‘jostling’,” he said.As per news agency ANI, a case u/s 109(1) BNS (attempt to murder) has been registered at Civil Lines police station against the accused.A senior cop said, “During the spot interrogation by intelligence bureau, the man claimed his name was Rajesh Bhai Khimji Bhai Sakriya and he was 41-years-old.” He further claimed to be a resident of Rajkot. Police have contacted Gujarat Police to verify his details and antecedents.An eyewitness told that Gupta was “completely in shock” after the incident. “She was listening to grievances when we suddenly heard noise from behind. By the time we turned, the police had already taken the attacker away,” the eyewitness added.(With agency inputs)