The Gujarat High Court Wednesday directed the Centre to file a reply affidavit in response to a petition seeking category-level police protection by an aide of slain Hindutva leader Kamlesh Tiwari.
Alleging that he has received nearly 16 calls from international numbers issuing death threats, Updesh Rana, who worked with Tiwari for about two years, sought “category-level” security in his plea before the HC. Rana, who claims to be a social worker and a religious speaker, added that the callers have not been traced till date.
According to him, the callers claimed that they were part of gangster Dawood Ibrahim’s gang and the ISI, among others. Currently, the special branch of the Surat City has provided a personal security officer (SO) for Rana in the state following directions from Gujarat ADGP. But Rana claims his work involves him travelling outside Gujarat, which he is unable to at present, owing to lack of security cover outside the state borders.
The court of Justice Samir Dave sought the Centre’s response. The matter will be taken up on May 5 next.