MHA may withdraw security cover of Sushil Kumar Shinde's kin

NEW DELHI: The home ministry is mulling withdrawal of central security cover extended to several members of former home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde's family, while keeping his own security detail intact. Among those who stand to lose their security cover are his wife Ujwala Shinde and three daughters, including Pranati Shinde who is an MLA representing Solapur City Central in the Maharashtra assembly, besides his four grandchildren.

According to government sources, all members of Shinde's immediate family, including his wife, three married daughters and four grandchildren were given central protection, in the 'X' and 'Y' category, during his tenure as home minister in the UPA-2 government. The Intelligence Bureau had rated their threat perception as high, especially after Shinde approved the "secret" execution of both 26/11 terrorist Ajmal Kasab and Parliament attack convict Mohd Afzal in 2012 and 2013 respectively.

Though Shinde's own security detail was toned down from Z-plus to Z after the new government took over, no review was undertaken of his family members' cover. The home ministry is now considering withdrawal of their security based on a fresh review of their threat perception. Though Pranati Shinde may have some threat perception by virtue of being an MLA, the ministry feels she may opt for protection by the state government instead.

When contacted by TOI, Shinde said he had expressed his disinclination to having security "right at the very outset" (possibly meaning soon after installation of the Modi government). "I have been a policeman. As home minister in the UPA government, I discharged the responsibilities and tasks given to me. Why should I need security for having done my job?" he asked.

The former home minister added that his MLA daughter Pranati had in fact written to the Maharashtra police 3-4 months back, stating that she did not need protection. "She travels between Mumbai and Solapur by road or by train without any security cover," he said. "I think my other two daughters too do not avail of any security cover," he added.

As for his four grandsons, Shinde said two of them were based in London and did not have any security cover. "The remaining two who live in Mumbai have protection, though it is Maharashtra police that handles their security detail and not central forces," he told TOI on Wednesday.