VIP security review: Chidambaram, Shinde, Buta Singh lose Z-plus category protection

New Delhi, Feb 25: Veteran Congress leaders and former Union ministers P Chidamabaram, Sushil Kumar Shinde and Buta Singh have lost their highest security cover accorded to VIPs other than the prime minister, the Z-plus category security and now it has been reduced to Z category.

According to a report published in TOI, the Central government took the move during a high-level security review meeting chaired by Union Home Secretary L C Goyal recently on Feb 20, Friday.

The security cover of the 1984 riots accused Jagadish Tytler and Sajjan Kumar was also downgraded.

The report said that the former Finance Minister P Chidamabaram was rarely seen travelling with his security fleet. However, former Union home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde retained his assigned protective cover.

Besides, Z-plus security, Buta Singh was also protected by 'Black Cat' commandos of the National Security Guard, an anti-terror crack force.

Security to controversial politician Matang Sinh, who was arrested by CBI in connection with Saradha scam, was also withdrawn, during the meeting.

Interestingly, last year before Lok Sabha elections, there was a time when the BJP leaders held a meeting with the then home minister SushilKumar Shinde to upgrade the security cover of Narendra Modi, who was the BJP's PM candidate.

In 2013, Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde had rejected the BJP demand for Special Protection Group (SPG) security cover for its prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi matching that provided to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

In May 2014, an RTI query had revealed that Shinde's daughter Praniti was enjoying Z+ security cover, with 52 personnel deployed for her protection. [Shinde's daughter enjoys 'Z plus security', reveals RTI query]

OneIndia News