The common man may remain unsafe in the city but at the same time large number of security personnel has been deployed for the protection of politicians and non-politician VIPs of the state. The police department is already facing shortage of manpower to secure the city.
An RTI application was filed by Pune based RTI activist Vihar Dhurve who sought to know the total number of police and security force deployed for the protection of political and non-political VIPs in Maharashtra. In the RTI reply very shocking information was revealed which says that a combined total of 812 police officers and security personnel have been deployed for the security of 84 VIPs in Maharashtra.
Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde and his family are enjoying the privilege of using more security personnel. Fifty two security personnel have been accorded to Sushilkumar Shinde and his daughter Praniti whereas 14 personnel are deployed for the security of Shinde’s wife Ujwala.
Sushilkumar Shinde and Praniti is getting the Z-plus security, whereas his wife Ujwala is enjoying Y-plus security.
In an RTI, it was revealed that over all 12 VIP’s in the state are enjoying the privilege of using Z-Plus Security. The list includes Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, Maharashtra Governor K. Sankaranarayan, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, Union Agricultural Minister Sharad Pawar, state Home Minister R.R. Patil and PWD minister Chhagan Bhujbal.
- Ashok Chavan – 15-22
- Uddhav Thackeray – 15-22
- Raj Thackeray – 15-22
- Rakesh Maria – 15- 22
- Prithviraj Chavan – 46
- Ajit Pawar- 31
- Chhagan Bhujbal – 25
Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan, Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thackeray, MNS chief Raj Thackeray and Mumbai Police Commissioner Rakesh Maria are among the 18 persons that have been granted Z-category security and have 15-22 personnel guarding them.
As per the information in an RTI, there are a total of 46 security personnel guarding Chavan, there are 31 for Ajit Pawar. Twenty five personnel are deployed for the security of PWD minister Chhagan Bhujbal.
Praniti Shinde said, “The security provided to my family is of no use and we don’t avail it. I have written a letter to State home minister and DGP of Maharashtra to withdraw the security provided to us so that it can be utilised for the better purpose.”
In the past there were reports which mentioned about the shortage of manpower in police department which resulted into the increase in crime rates.
A high rank level police officer on the condition of anonymity said, “There is shortage of manpower to provide security to the common man but at same time we also are responsible for securing the lives of VIPs.”
