Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, Aug 21: Rajesh Sakariya, the man arrested for attacking Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta during a public hearing on Tuesday, has told police that he targeted her after his appeals on the stray dogs issue were allegedly ignored.

Police sources said the 41-year-old, a native of Rajkot in Gujarat, made bizarre statements claiming he was a devotee of Lord Shiva and was “divinely guided” to seek the Chief Minister’s intervention over the Supreme Court directive on relocating stray dogs to shelters. Sakariya admitted that he travelled ticketless to Delhi, reached Shalimar Bagh after losing his way on the Metro, and went to Gupta’s residence intending to make his appeal before returning to Gujarat.

He alleged that his pleas were not taken seriously, prompting the attack. However, Delhi Minister Kapil Mishra dismissed the “divine intervention” narrative, pointing instead to Sakariya’s criminal background. Police confirmed that Sakariya has multiple cases against him in Gujarat, mostly related to liquor smuggling, with some acquittals and others still pending.

Authorities are now investigating the motive behind the attack and the accused’s movements prior to reaching the Chief Minister’s residence.