A 30-year-old man was arrested on Saturday for allegedly making a death threat to Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta. Investigation has revealed that the man was intoxicated at the time of making the call, and made the death threat after police declined to help him contact his estranged wife.
The arrest was made during a joint operation by the Delhi and Uttar Pradesh police forces, who traced the accused, Shlok Tripathi alias Shlok Tiwari, to Ghaziabad.
Tripathi works as a deed writer in the Ghaziabad court and is currently pursuing a law degree. He was detained and is now being questioned by multiple investigative agencies including the Delhi Police Special Staff, the Special Cell, the Intelligence Bureau, and officials from Uttar Pradesh, news agency PTI reported.
The accused separated from his wife last year. She currently resides in Delhi while he lives with his mother and sister in Ghaziabad. Although Tripathi claimed the separation stemmed from a dispute between his wife and his mother, police suggest his ongoing struggle with alcohol may have played a significant role.
“He wanted to talk and meet his wife, who has been living separately from him due to his alcohol addiction. He was also in a nasha mukti kendra for three months last year,” a police officer saidm as reported by PTI.
Frustrated and emotionally distressed, Tripathi made a call to the 112 emergency helpline in Ghaziabad during the early hours between Thursday night and Friday morning, pleading with police to help reconnect him with his wife.
During the initial call, Tripathi made no mention of Delhi’s Chief Minister. Instead, he demanded that police compel his wife to speak to him. But when his plea was not entertained, his tone escalated dramatically, and he threatened to kill the chief minister.
Tripathi, who police say has a history of making anonymous calls, was reportedly dealing with depression linked to his marital issues.
Security Tightened For CM Rekha Gupta
Following the threat, Ghaziabad Police promptly alerted their Delhi counterparts. A team was dispatched to Panchwati Colony, the location from where the call was traced. However, Tripathi initially evaded capture.
“After receiving the alert, a team reached the area but the caller had already left,” said Assistant Commissioner of Police, Ghaziabad, Ritesh Tripathi.
In response to the threat, Delhi Police have intensified security around CM Rekha Gupta’s northwest Delhi residence. The chief minister, who is under “Z” category protection, continues to be under tight watch as a precautionary measure.
