Z+ security to Saini not withdrawn: Police

CHANDIGARH The Punjab government on Thursday rebutted the charge of former director general of police Sumedh Singh Saini’s wife on withdrawal of his Z-plus security cover.

Saini is facing arrest in a case of alleged extra-judicial killing of one Balwant Singh Multani, one of the accused in the 1991 terror attack on Saini when he was SSP in Chandigarh. Earlier, a Mohali court turned down Saini’s application for anticipatory bail in the murder case.

Saini’s plea for bail is expected to come up for hearing in the high court on Friday.

In her communication to Punjab chief secretary and DGP – as confirmed by an official spokesman – Saini’s wife said a false mischievous FIR, emanating from a bomb blast on him in 1991, in which a number of police personnel were killed was registered against him in Mohali, in 2020.

“He was provided Z- plus security. The security also extended to his family. The security to him and to his family has been suddenly withdrawn today. The threat to Saini and to his family from terrorists and criminals is real, and continues to obtain as it obtained,” she wrote.

The government, however, denied her charges. “There has been no change whatsoever in the security detail and the paraphernalia, including the security box and jammer vehicle, provided to the former police chief, who is a Z-plus category protectee of the state government,” said the official spokesperson.