After former Chief Election Commissioner TN Seshan, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has provided Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar with a Z-category VIP security cover of armed commandos. This decision, based on a threat perception report, involves deploying approximately 40-45 armed commandos from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) to ensure the safety of Kumar.
The armed commandos will accompany the CEC during his travels across the country. This is one of the rarest instances of a CEC being provided a Central security cover. Former CEC, late T N Seshan, had a Central security cover at one point of time. The CEC, as well as two Election Commissioners, are currently guarded by a small armed security team drawn from the Delhi Police. According to sources, the decision to upgrade the security cover of Kumar comes after Central security agencies prepared a threat perception report, which recommended robust security measures for him. They did not share the specifics of IB’s threat perception report.
Under Z category security protocols, a comprehensive security detail has been deployed. A total of 33 security personnel, including CRPF commandos, have been assigned to safeguard Kumar during his official engagements and travels across the country.
This entails 10 armed static guards stationed at Kumar’s residence, six personal security officers (PSOs) providing round-the-clock protection, and 12 armed commandos working in three shifts to escort him. Additionally, two watchers per shift and three trained drivers are on standby to ensure Kumar’s safety at all times. On an average about Rs 50 lakh is being spent to protect him, which means about Rs 1.5 lakh daily.
The decision to elevate Kumar’s security status comes amidst heightened turmoil surrounding the ongoing political landscape as Opposition parties like the Trinamool Congress protest against the Election Commission.
The VIP security cover categorisations begin from the highest Z+ followed by Z, Y+, Y and X.
The move comes amid preparations for the seven-phase Lok Sabha elections that begin on April 19. Kumar is a retired IAS officer of the 1984 batch. He took charge as the 25th CEC on May 15, 2022. He had been appointed as an election commissioner in the poll body on September 1, 2020.
