The Supreme Court on Monday ordered to provide Z-plus security, the highest level of cover, to Reliance Industries chairman and managing director Mukesh Ambani and his family members across India and even abroad.
"Highest Z+ Security Cover provided to respondent nos. 2 to 6 (Ambanis) shall be available all across India and the same is to be ensured by the State of Maharashtra and Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). Highest Level Z+ Security Cover, as per the policy of Government of India, be also provided, while respondent nos. 2 to 6 are travelling abroad and the same shall be ensured by the Ministry of Home Affairs," an SC bench of Justices Krishna Murari and Ahsanuddin Amanullah said, adding that the entire expenses "shall be borne by the respondents (Ambanis)".The SC bench also said looking into the business activities of Ambanis within the country as also outside, it was of considered opinion that if there is a security threat, "the security cover provided and that too at own expense of the respondents, cannot be restricted to a particular area or place of stay".
Then the very purpose of providing security cover would stand frustrated, if the same is restricted to a particular place, it said.
The apex court's order came on a miscellaneous application filed in a matter pertaining to a case, Union of India vs Bikash Saha, seeking clarification of its July 22, 2022, order by which it had allowed the Centre to continue with the security cover for Ambani and his family members in Mumbai. The counsel for the applicant had contended that the order was restricted to providing security cover to respondents Ambanis only within Maharashtra, which is the place of his business and residence.
Senior counsel Mukul Rohtagi, appearing for the respondents, contended that the highest level of Z+ security cover was provided to them in view of continuous threat perception assessed by Mumbai police and MHA.
"The respondent is at continued risk of being targeted to financially destabilise the country and such risk exists not only throughout India as also when the said respondents are travelling abroad," he submitted.
The court also noted that the security cover provided to respondent Ambani and his family has been the subject matter of controversy at different places and in different high courts.
In one such direction of the Tripura high court on a Public Interest Litigation filed by Saha, it has allowed the appeal of the central government challenging the HC order. The Tripura
HC passed two interim orders on May 31 and June 21 directing the central government to place the original file maintained by the ministry of home affairs regarding the threat perception and assessment report of Ambani, his wife and children, based on which security has been granted to them.
The top court closed the writ petition as it refused to interfere with the Tripura HC's direction.
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(With input from news agency language)
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