Attack on Delhi CM: Delhi Police grills 5 people in Gujarat

New Delhi: The Delhi Police is questioning five people in Gujarat's Rajkot for their alleged connection with the attack on Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, PTI reported, citing an official.

The officer said they have already seized the accused's mobile phone and are following leads that have emerged.

"A total of five people are being questioned by the Delhi Police. We are also getting help from the Gujarat Police to better understand the accused and his family members," the officer said.

The officer further said that these five people include the accused's family members and friends.

"One person is already under questioning who transferred money to him. We may bring them to Delhi for further investigation and questioning. Our team will also question those who were in contact with the accused to know if he was planning this attack on the CM," said the officer.

The man accused of attacking Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta during a public hearing told investigators that he had planned to stage a protest at Ramleela Ground here against the Supreme Court's order on relocating stray dogs, similar to how social activist Anna Hazare protested over the corruption issue.

"If required, we can also take him to his native place in Rajkot, Gujarat, as part of the ongoing investigation," sources said. His mobile phone has already been sent for forensic examination to ascertain if he deleted any crucial information before the assault.

Khimji, a 41-year-old autorickshaw driver, was sent to five days' police custody. The accused also told police that he had gone to the Delhi chief minister's 'Jan Sunwai' programme on Wednesday to raise the issue of stray dogs.

Police said that the team visited Rajkot and is questioning five people, including an autorickshaw driver who had sent Rs 2,000 through the online payment system to Khimji. The team has left after questioning them.

"We have also served a notice to an autorickshaw driver who had transferred the money to Khimji, and he has been asked to appear before the police for further questioning. So far, we have not detained anyone," said the officer.

The Rajkot Police have found in their preliminary probe that Khimji went to Delhi from Ujjain on August 19 to take part in a protest against the SC ruling on stray dogs.

His mother, Bhanuben, also vouched for his love for stray dogs and said he was upset over the recent court order about strays in Delhi.

Prior to Khimji's arrest by the Delhi police, five FIRs were registered against him between 2017 and 2024 at Bhaktinagar police station (in Rajkot), mostly for cases related to assault and possession of liquor.

While two FIRs were related to assault and criminal intimidation, three others were for the alleged possession and transportation of liquor, Bangarva said.

"The accused attacked the chief minister after he failed to raise the issue before her. He also told us that after the recent Supreme Court order to remove stray dogs from the streets in Delhi, he had a dream in which Lord Bhairav asked him to take up the cause of the poor animals," said a police source.