No change in Thackeray’s security — Bhujbal

The Government has accepted the recommendation of the committee, Bhujbal, who also holds the home portfolio, said.

Thackeray was provided `Z’ category security cover from 1988 which was upgraded to `Z plus’ in May 1995, Bhujbal said.

The earlier Shiv Sena-BJP Government in April 1996 raised the number of personnel in Thackeray’s security cover from 79 to 155 which was further raised to 206 in 1997.

As per the report of the review committee, on February 29, 2000, the number of personnel in Thackeray’s security cover was reduced to 158 from 206, Bhujbal said. Similarly, the number of vehicles in the security cover was reduced to seven from 11, the Deputy Chief Minister said.

Soon after Bhujbal made the statement, leader of Opposition Narayan Rane wanted to know if the ruling Democratic Front Government would take the responsibility for ensuring that there was no threat to the Thackeray family.

Bhujbal responded by stating that security of the Thackeray family was the duty of the State Government and the security cover could be even increased if recommended by the review committee.

RAJVANSH MURDER: Investigations into the alleged murder of actress Priya Ranjvansh would be handed over to CID, Minister of State for Home Manikrao Thakre announced in the Legislative Council today.

Replying to a notice vide rule no 93 moved by Vynkappa Patki (JD-S) and others, Thakre said CID would also probe failure of investigating officials to register a case of murder initially and the need for two post-mortems on the body of the actress.

Police had registered a case of accidental death after the body of Priya was found in the bungalow of Chetan Anand in suburban Juhu on March 28, the Minister said.

However, they registered a case of murder following first post-mortem report which said the actress’ death was caused due to strangulation, Thakre said in reply to a supplementary.

The need for the second post-mortem was felt as the viscera of the first post-mortem was not preserved by the doctors, the Minister said. It also did not mention the time of Priya’s death and the object used for strangulating her, he added.

Opposition Shiv Sena-BJP members then alleged that the role of police and the manner in which the post-mortem was conducted gave sufficient room for suspicion and demanded that the probe be handed over to CID.

Thakre said Priya’s murder was a fallout of a property dispute and four persons have been arrested in this connection. Chargesheets would be filed against the accused soon, he added.