The Andhra Pradesh state government is giving Z Plus security to former chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, said the government in the high court. State Security Review Committee member and senior IPS officer S N Viswanath filed a petition in the high court seeking dismissal of Jagan Mohan Reddy’s petition seeking restoration of security for him. Jagan Mohan Reddy wanted the court to direct the state government to restore the security that he was having as the chief minister.
Viswanath said that if Jagan Mohan Reddy has threat to his life, he should apply to the state government and not the high court. He further said that Jagan Mohan Reddy did not give any letter to the state government about threat to his life. He requested the high court to quash the petition.
The IPS officer said that Jagan Mohan Reddy government brought a new Act, AP Special Security Group Act in 2023. According to this Act, those who have Z Plus security are entitled to get additional security forces. In all 58 security personnel are given to the one who is covered under Z Plus security, he told the court. However, after the 2019 general election, Jagan Mohan Reddy lost the chief minister post and he is now not covered by the 2023 Act, the senior IPS officer told the court.
The Security Review Committee had met on July 16 and reviewed the security arrangements for the newly-elected legislators. The security of former chief minister Jagan Mohan Reddy was also reviewed at the meeting, he said. It was decided to continue the Z Plus security to Jagan Mohan Reddy with Bullet Resistance, he said.
He requested the high court to quash the petition. However, advocates for Jagan Mohan Reddy insisted that the petition be heard and security for Jagan Mohan Reddy is restored. The advocates also wanted the government to continue the security cover that he was having as the chief minister.
