VIP security costs Delhi Rs 20cr a month

The Delhi government is bearing the cost of VIP security cover to 436 persons in the Capital. The list includes people facing criminal charges as well as those who have demitted office. Number crunching

The Delhi government is bearing the cost of VIP security cover to 436 persons in the Capital. The list includes people facing criminal charges as well as those who have demitted office.

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In a fresh affidavit filed before the Supreme Court, the Delhi government said that these individuals were besides constitutional functionaries such as the president and prime minister who get security cover as per guidelines mentioned in the “Blue Book.”

Twenty-three people are central protectees, while six are local. The state government also said 29 such persons were facing criminal charges. The complete list will be handed over to the court in a sealed cover.

The Delhi government incurs a monthly expense of around R20 crore on providing security — over Rs 2 crore of this is spent on salaries and allowances for the personnel deployed.

The fresh document, filed by the state home department’s additional secretary, comes after the court wanted specific answers to questions related to security cover.

Responding to one of the queries, the government said 89 persons who have now demitted public office too have security cover. Forty-four police personnel have been deployed to provide security to children and other family members of public functionaries.

Guidelines mentioned in the “Blue Book” are followed to regulate traffic during the movement of the president, vice-president and the prime minister of India.

However, there are separate guidelines for security arrangements for the home minister, former prime ministers, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, her immediate family members and former deputy prime minister LK Advani.