Delhi CM attacked: AAP rejects BJP's 'fake' photo of attacker; calls MLA Harish Khurana 'petty troll'

NEW DELHI: Aam Aadmi Party on Wednesday rejected the Bharatiya Janata Party 's claim that Delhi chief minister Rekha Gupta 's attacker is linked with AAP and alleged the saffron party edited the original video and posted fake photos.

BJP MLA Harish Khurana had posted an image on social media, claiming it showed the attacker, Sakaria Rajeshbhai Khimjibhai , with AAP’s Gujarat MLA Gopal Italia . He suggested the photo indicated political backing for the assault during Gupta’s Jan Sunwai at her Civil Lines residence.

"What was suspected has happened. The photo with @ArvindKejriwal's close associate @Gopal_Italia says a lot. It clearly seems that the attack on @gupta_rekha ji today is connected to @AamAadmiParty. Will Kejriwal ji explain the truth behind this photo? Kejriwal ji, please explain, 'What is this relationship called?' Amazing," Khurana's post read.

Italia hit back, calling Khurana a “petty troll” and releasing the original video—posted on his Facebook on August 2—showing him with someone else, not the accused.

He also invoked Khurana’s late father, former Delhi CM Madan Lal Khurana, accusing the BJP leader of shaming his legacy. Italia warned of legal action against media outlets that carried the BJP’s claim without verification.

हरीश खुराना जी, आप की ख़ुद की तो किसी ट्रोलर से ज़्यादा इज्जत है नहीं लेकिन ऐसी घटिया हरकत करने से पहले अपने पिताजी मदनलाल जी की इज्जत की तो परवाह कर लेते?

दो रूपिये Per ट्वीट के हिसाब से काम कर रहे भाजपाई छुटभैये से भी निम्न स्तर के आप के कारनामे देखकर स्वर्गीय मदनलाल खुराना… https://t.co/KjeG09XACl

— Gopal Italia (@Gopal_Italia) August 20, 2025

"Harish Khurana ji, you yourself don't have more respect than a troll, but before indulging in such cheap antics, didn't you think about the honour of your father, Madan Lal ji?" Italia said in a social media post. He added: "Seeing your deeds, which are even lower than those of a small-time BJP worker paid two rupees per tweet, would the late Madan Lal Khurana ji be very pleased? What would he be thinking, seeing his son become a petty troll?"

Italia further warned, "My appeal to all media is not to run news based on this petty troll Harish ji's tweet without verifying it. I will be forced to take legal action."

While BJP leaders framed the attack as a conspiracy, AAP MLA Anil Jha suggested the incident was fabricated. "No attack happened. I have known her for a long time now. This is a story, and she got a man to stage-manage this," Jha said.

Meanwhile, Delhi Police confirmed that Sakaria Rajeshbhai Khimjibhai, a Rajkot resident, has been booked for attempt to murder under Section 109(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Police described him as a “serial offender” with multiple past cases in Gujarat, many ending in acquittal.