Who’s going to keep their VIP security? VK Singh, Gautam Gambhir among those facing MHA review

A source in the Delhi Police headquarters said the security unit conducted an audit a few months ago after it noticed that multiple people had security cover and that a review had not been undertaken for a long time in the case of some.

“After the audit, the security cover of many people was removed. But it also found that many MoS, MPs and other persons, even after completing their designated tenure, still had security cover,” a source said.

Those named in the audit report, the source said, include former MoS with Y-category security cover: Bhagwat Kishanrao Karad, Devusinh Chauhan, Bhanu Pratap Singh Verma, Jasvantsinh Bhabhor, John Barla, Kaushal Kishore, Krishna Raj, Manish Tewari, PP Chaudhary, Rajkumar Ranjan Singh, Rameswar Teli, SS Ahluwalia, Sanjeev Kumar Balyan, Som Parkash, Sudarshan Bhagat, V Muraleedharan, former Army chief General V K Singh and Vijay Goel.

“There are three MoS: Ajay Bhatt, Ashwini Kumar Choubey and Bishweswar Tudu, whose profiles have been changed, but they still have security cover of Y-category as per their last portfolio. As per the audit report, all former MoS still have three PSOs, and four police personnel at their homes,” the source said.

In line with procedure, a security review of the Protected Person, which was provided on positional basis or threat basis, was conducted upon completion of tenure. After the review, the Delhi Police sent a letter to the MHA for its final decision.

“After conducting an audit and finding all these names, the security division of Delhi Police plans to approach the MHA. It will ask the Ministry to take a final call on their security,” the source said.

Questions sent to Special CP (security division) Jaspal Singh for comment did not elicit a response.

The audit report, the source said, had names of former MPs Gautam Gambhir, Abhijit Mukherjee, Dr Karan Singh, Maulana Mahmood Madani, Naba Kumar Sarania, Ram Shankar Katheria, Ajay Maken (now Rajya Sabha), K C Tyagi, Parvesh Verma, Rakesh Sinha, Ramesh Bidhuri and Vijay Inder Singla.

“The audit report also had other names. Former J&K Governor Satya Pal Malik, former SAD MLA Deep Malhotra, former AAP MLA Rajendra Pal Gautam, former ED Director Karnail Singh, former Delhi Police Commissioner S N Srivastava, former Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi, former MLA V K Malhotra also have security cover,” the source said.

The level of security for any individual is decided by the MHA, based on inputs received from intelligence agencies. Certain individuals who hold positions in the government are automatically entitled to security cover.