During interrogation, accused Rajeshbhai Khimji told police about his activities to prove himself as a staunch animal lover. He was reportedly upset with the apex court’s recent order on stray dogs in the national capital, they said.
The Delhi Police is likely to take the accused to his native place in Rajkot, Gujarat, as part of the ongoing investigation, the sources added. His mobile phone has been sent for forensic examination to ascertain whether he deleted any crucial information before the assault.
The police are verifying the claims made by Khimji, a 41-year-old autorickshaw driver, the sources said.
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.
“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.
Lord Bhairav is an incarnation of the Hindu deity Shiva, whose mount (vehicle) is a black dog.
Khimji was sent to police custody for five days by a local court earlier in the day. During questioning, he also told police many “stories,” including that in May he was in Ayodhya, where he sat on a three-day hunger strike for the welfare of monkeys, the sources said. His mobile phone showed pictures and videos of him in Ayodhya, they added.
The Central agencies, including the Intelligence Bureau, are also assisting the Delhi Police in the investigation, police sources said.
Khimji was arrested on Wednesday after he allegedly attacked the Chief Minister during a public hearing at her Civil Lines camp office. He has been booked under various charges, including attempt to murder.
The sources said that a police team may take the accused back to his native place in Gujarat to gather more information about his background, activities, and possible motives behind the attack. His travel to Delhi is also being reconstructed in detail.
“From the time he boarded a train to Delhi till he reached the CM’s camp office, every step will be traced. CCTV footage along his route and in areas he visited in the city will be checked. We are also collecting details of places where he stayed and whom he met,” said another source.
The forensic team will examine the accused’s mobile phone to determine whether he attempted to erase digital evidence.
“Deleted photos, videos, call records, or any other data pointing towards prior planning will be retrieved and analysed,” said the source.
The accused further told investigators that he had staged a protest in Khodaldham in Rajkot earlier this year for the welfare of stray cattle, the sources said.
During questioning, he also described himself as an animal lover who had worked in several places across Gujarat and other parts of the country on animal-related issues.
Earlier, Khimji’s mother, Bhanu Khimjibhai Sakriya, told reporters in Rajkot that her son was a dog lover and was upset over the Supreme Court’s order directing authorities in the National Capital Region to pick up stray dogs and shift them to shelters.
Investigators, however, maintained that the actual motive behind the assault is yet to be ascertained as interrogation is still underway.
According to police records, Khimji has five criminal cases registered against him in Gujarat, including those related to assault and creating ruckus under the influence of alcohol.
The Delhi Police is probing all possible angles in the attack.
“Social media activity of the accused is under scanner. We are also examining whether there was any conspiracy behind the incident. Teams will also review visuals of the attack and how much time it took the security personnel to act,” the source said.
The sources added that the accused told police he kept around 15–20 dogs in his village and wanted to raise the issue of what he claimed was the “life of three lakh dogs” before the Chief Minister.
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