Aaditya Thackeray to get upgraded ‘Z’ security, Sachin Tendulkar ‘X’ category

ShivSena leader Aaditya Thackeray has been given ‘Z’ security cover, meaning more personnel will be guarding him now, the official said

Mumbai: Cricketer and former Rajya Sabha member Sachin Tendulkar lost his ‘Z’ security cover as the Maharasthra state government announced security review after the assessment by the threat perception committee. Aaditya Thackeray upgraded to the ‘Z’ category, an official said on Wednesday.

Apart from Sachin Tendulkar and ShivSena leader Aaditya Thackeray, security cover of more than 90 prominent citizens was reviewed by the committee at a recent meeting, the official said.

Tendulkar, a Bharat Ratna awardee, till now enjoyed X category security which has been withdrawn, he said.

Under the X category, a policeman used to guard the cricketer round-the-clock. However, he will be given a police escort whenever he steps out of his home, he said.

ShivSena leader Aaditya Thackeray has been given ‘Z’ security cover, meaning more personnel will be guarding him now, the official said.

Earlier, Aaditya Thackeray MLA from Worli in central Mumbai had Y+ security cover.

NCP supremo Sharad Pawar will continue to enjoy Z+ security, whereas his nephew and party leader Ajit Pawar retains Z category security cover, he said.

Social activist Anna Hazare’s security has been reviewed to Y+ from the Z category, the official said.

Former Uttar Pradesh governor Ram Naiks Z+ security has been downgraded to X. Security cover of two former BJP ministers, Eknath Khadse and Ram Shinde, has also been downgraded, he said.

The security of well-known lawyer Ujjwal Nikam, who represented the several high-profile cases like the 1993 Mumbai serial bomb blasts, too, has been downgraded.

Nikam, who earlier enjoyed Z+ security, has now been placed in Y category with an escort, the official said.

Various ministers in the former BJP-led government may also see security downgrades in the coming days, he added.