Row over Z security to Gupta brothers
The South Africabased tycoons are reportedly involved in highprofile corruption cases there
DEHRADUN: South Africa-based Indian-origin tycoon brothers Ajay Gupta and Atul Gupta, whose names reportedly figured in corruption cases that led to former president Jacob Zuma’s resignation on February 14, enjoy “paid” Z-category security provided by the Uttarakhand government.
They were provided security owing to their proximity to the political class despite the police administration having serious reservations about it, media reports said. Authorities denied the reports, saying the Gupta brothers were provided the security as per rules.
Originally from Saharanpur (Uttar Pradesh), the Gupta brothers, now on the run, own a plush bungalow in Dehradun’s posh Curzon road area.
Police personnel provide them security, besides guarding their mansion during Gupta family members’ occasional visits to the town.
Sources in the government said Ajay was staying in the Curzon road mansion the day embattled Zuma resigned following corruption allegations. A day later, he flew to an unknown destination in a helicopter, the sources said, adding that the high-flying Gupta brothers rubbed shoulders with bigwigs of the BJP, Congress and the Samjwadi Party in Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh.
Principal secretary, home, Anand Vardhan admitted that the Guptas had been provided paid Z-category security by the state government “but strictly” as per norms. “The decision to provide them paid Z-category security was taken by a committee strictly as per well laid out norms and following a proper scrutiny of all aspects including the threat perception,” he said.
Reports, however, said the secretariat administration and police authorities were not in favour of providing security to the brothers. Director general of police (DGP) Anil Kumar Raturi refused to comment on the issue, saying orders in that connection were issued by the government.
“Security issues are confidential and are not disclosed to the media. Such decisions on providing security (to individuals) are taken by the government, so you better ask the government,” he said when asked if the police administration had objections to the government’s move to provide Z-category security to the Gupta family.
The Gupta brothers’ brotherin-law Anil Gupta held a minister-level post in the former Congress government led by then chief minister Vijay Bahuguna who is now in the ruling BJP. “I don’t know him personally but he (Anil Gupta) was the first politician Bahugunaji awarded the minister-level post under his government,” Congress leader Surendra Kumar said.
Media reports said the Bahuguna government first provided Z-category security to the Gupta brothers.
The BJP government, which took over last year, withdrew their security following an analysis, but reinstated it later, said sources familiar with the matter.
According to reports, many top politicians from Uttar Pradesh, such as former chief minister Akhilesh Yadav and SP leaders Shivpal Yadav and Azam Khan, attended functions hosted by the Gupta brothers. Their functions were also reportedly attended by some Uttarakhand top politicians, such as former CMs Bahuguna, Harish Rawat and Ramesh Pokhariyal Nishank.
Surendra Kumar denied that former CM Rawat attended functions hosted by the Gupta brothers, “We are in public life, so a number of people invite us to their functions. We can only be blamed when we attend functions of persons who are known criminals,” Nishank said. “How do we know that a person whose function we attend today would do something wrong tomorrow?”
› The decision to provide them paid Zcategory security was taken by a committee strictly as per well laid out norms and following a proper scrutiny of all aspects including the threat perception
ANAND VARDHAN , Principal secretary, home