New Delhi, June 28: Finding that a number of persons were enjoying VIP security without any justification, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram has sought a review to scale down the facility extended to them.
The review is being carried out by Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta, who has been given a list of over 100 VIPs, including former Ministers Shivraj Patil, Natwar Singh and Jagmohan who have been given such protection.
In some of the cases, it was observed that VIPs were enjoying state security more as a status symbol and not because of any threat.
Chidambaram, who has refused to take any security, is believed to be of the opinion that security should be provided only to those who face credible threats and those holding Constitutional posts.
The expenditure due to the VIP security was also a constant worry to the budget of the ministry, the sources said.
During a recent meeting between Home Ministry officials and security agencies, it was suggested to scale down security of several politicians and retired bureaucrats, the sources said.
In the meeting, the threat assessment of all politicians was reviewed after which the recommendation to scale down the security of over two dozen politicians, including Patil and Singh who enjoy Z-plus security, was given.
Besides politicians, former Delhi police commissioner KK Paul, retired bureaucrats VK Duggal, Ashok Chaturvedi, former CBI director Vijay Shankar and former NSG chief J K Dutt were also named in the list, the sources said.
—Agencies