The man accused of attacking Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta during a public hearing on Wednesday told investigators that he was motivated by the recent Supreme Court order on relocating stray dogs, police sources said on Thursday.
Accused Rajeshbhai Khimji, a 41-year-old autorickshaw driver from Rajkot, Gujarat, reportedly wanted to stage a protest at Ramleela Ground similar to Anna Hazare’s anti-corruption campaigns. Khimji told police that he was upset by the Delhi Supreme Court’s decision on stray dogs and wanted to show his support for animal welfare.
Interrogation Details
During questioning, Khimji explained that he had attended the CM’s ‘Jan Sunwai’ programme to raise the issue of stray dogs but attacked the chief minister after he failed to get her attention. Police sources stated that Khimji claimed he had a dream in which Lord Bhairav, an incarnation of Hindu deity Shiva whose mount is a black dog, instructed him to take up the cause of the animals.
The accused also recounted prior activism, including a three-day hunger strike in Ayodhya earlier this year for monkey welfare. Police verified these claims through pictures and videos on his mobile phone.
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Investigation Underway
Khimji was sent to police custody for five days by a local court. Authorities are conducting a detailed investigation, reconstructing his travel from Rajkot to Delhi, reviewing CCTV footage, and checking the places he stayed and people he met. To find out if he erased any digital evidence before the incident, his cell phone has been sent for forensic analysis.
Central agencies, including the Intelligence Bureau, are assisting Delhi Police. Officials are also scrutinizing his social media activity and assessing whether there was any broader conspiracy behind the incident.
Accused’s Background
Khimji claimed to have staged a protest in Khodaldham, Rajkot, earlier this year for the welfare of stray cattle. He described himself as a dedicated animal lover who has worked across Gujarat and other parts of India on animal welfare issues.
According to police records, he has five criminal cases registered in Gujarat, including assault and creating a ruckus under the influence of alcohol. His mother, Bhanu Khimjibhai Sakriya, told reporters that her son was a dog lover and distressed over the Supreme Court order directing the capture of stray dogs in Delhi and surrounding districts.
The accused said he kept 15-20 dogs at his home in Rajkot and wanted to highlight what he described as the plight of three lakh stray dogs in Delhi.
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Police Probes Multiple Angles
Investigators are leaving no stone unturned, reviewing the timing of security intervention during the attack, and examining all potential motives. According to officials, the inquiry will go on to confirm if Khimji acted alone or with outside assistance.
The incident has triggered debates over animal welfare activism, public safety, and the limits of protest, with authorities emphasizing that no threat to public officials will be tolerated while also acknowledging the ongoing Supreme Court controversy over stray dog management.
