Naveen Jindal gets 'Z' class VIP security

NEW DELHI: Adding to the VIP protectees list, which had been pruned during the tenure of former Union Home Minister P Chidambaram, the Home Ministry has increased the security of Congress MP and industrialist Naveen Jindal to 'Z' category in view of Naxal threat.

A squad of 25 commandos drawn from Delhi Police and CRPF will now guard Jindal, who represents the Kurukshetra Lok Sabha seat.

Sources privy to the development said inputs were analysed by security agencies that Jindal faces threat from Naxal groups whenever he travels to his industrial units in Maoist affected states.

Subsequently he was extended a 'Z' category security. While Delhi Police will guard the VIP in the national capital region, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) will cover Jindal whenever he travels around the country.

"The armed commandos will give the VIP proximate security 24x7 and also when he is on move. Threats regarding his security were analysed by the Home Ministry sometime back after which directions have been issued," a source said.

Under this category of security, Jindal will have pilot and follow-on vehicles with commandos armed with sophisticated weapons.

In the recent past, the government has accorded and enhanced the security of Union Steel Minister Beni Prasad Verma and Brajesh Pathak, a BSP politician and Rajya Sabha MP, and RIL Chairman Mukesh Ambani among others.

The CBI has also registered a case against Jindal in the coal blocks allocation case.