Eknath Shinde’s security personnel had informed control room when he left for Surat

According to prevailing protocol, the police security staff had informed the VIP security control room that the ministers had crossed the Maharashtra border and entered Gujarat.

Mumbai: The special protection unit of the Maharashtra police, which provides police protection to VVIPs and VIPs, has revealed that three Maharashtra cabinet ministers -- Eknath Shinde, Abdul Sattar and Sandipan Bhumre -- had taken their police security cover right till the Surat hotel where they camped immediately after the Legislative Council elections on June 20, hours before the news of the revolt in Shiv Sena broke out.

Hoardings in support of rebel Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde put up on Vashi Highway, in Navi Mumbai, India, on Monday, June 27, 2022. (Bachchan Kumar/ HT PHOTO)

According to prevailing protocol, the police security staff had informed the VIP security control room that the ministers had crossed the Maharashtra border and entered Gujarat. The rebel Shiv Sena group first gathered at Surat, before flying to Guwahati.

However, four other ministers who joined the Eknath Shinde camp subsequently had left their police security cover behind in Mumbai, informing the policemen that they were travelling for some personal work.

“After the MLAs and ministers left and joined the rebel group several questions were raised about the role of the special protection unit (SPU) that was protecting the ministers. Questions were asked if the SPU officials had informed about the minister’s leaving Maharashtra,” said a police officer from Maharashtra police.

Police officials said that Eknath Shinde who has been given Y+ category security, comprising one personnel security officer (PSO), three constables and an escort vehicle, had taken his security along with him to Surat.

Similarly, cabinet ministers Sandipan Bhumre and Abdul Sattar, who were both provided Y Category security of a trained PSO had also taken their security to the Surat hotel where the rebel MLAs initially stayed.

“The security officials had called the VIP security control room at Dadar and informed that the VIPs were leaving Maharashtra and moving towards Gujarat,” said a police officer.

When they reached Surat, the SPU officials informed the local police about the VIPs staying in the hotel and later left when the local police arrived there after 72 hours.

Similarly, other ministers like Dadaji Bhuse, Gulabrao Patil, Shamburaje Desai, Bacchu Kadu, and Rajendra Yedravkar had also asked their police security personnel to leave them as they had some personal commitments to attend.

“The guards while leaving the VIPs had informed their control room that the VIP had left them to reach an undisclosed location,” said an official from Maharashtra police. ‘

He, however, added that it was normal practice and in several cases, the VIPs leave the security behind whenever they proceed to undisclosed locations for personal work. “So, the protocol is the security commandos should inform about it to the control room,” the officer added.

The officer said Shinde’s Maharashtra police PSO is still with him in Guwahati.