Veteran politician Sharad Pawar receives enhanced CRPF protection as Supriya Sule requests withdrawal of her security detail
The Centre has granted ‘Z’ category security to veteran politician Sharad Pawar, following a recent threat analysis report by the Intelligence Bureau (IB). The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has directed the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) to provide the security detail. The 83-year-old former Union minister will now receive round-the-clock protection at his residence and during his travels across the country.
Over 60 CRPF personnel will be assigned to protect the ex-Maharashtra chief minister, who leads the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar), a faction formed under his leadership after the NCP, which he co-founded in 1999, split last year under his nephew Ajit Pawar. The Election Commission has recognised the Ajit Pawar faction as the ‘real’ NCP, a decision the NCP(SP) is contesting in the Supreme Court.
The VIP security wing of CRPF is a specialised unit responsible for protecting individuals designated by the Union home ministry, including Union ministers, governors, politicians, and other prominent figures.
Meanwhile, in a related development, Sharad Pawar’s daughter, Supriya Sule, requested Maharashtra deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis to withdraw the police personnel assigned to her security. Citing the recent alleged sexual assault of two four-year-old girls by a cleaner at a school in Badlapur, Thane district, Sule raised concerns about the strain on law enforcement resources.
“A significant portion of the police force is dedicated to providing security to sitting and former lawmakers, including myself. Given the current strain on law enforcement, it is inappropriate to maintain such security arrangements. Therefore, I request the home minister to withdraw the officers assigned to my security and reassign them to protect the public,” the Baramati MP said in a statement.
