Just 15 days before NCP leader Baba Siddique’s murder, his security was upgraded to Y category after he had received threats to his life.
On October 12, Siddique was shot outside his son Zeeshan’s office building in Bandra. He later succumbed to his injuries at Lilavati Hospital in Mumbai.
Baba Siddique’s death ignited a political controversy in Maharashtra, with opposition parties accusing the Eknath Shinde-led state government of failing to protect a political leader under Y security cover.
Bollywood actor Salman Khan’s security has also been intensified following Siddique’s murder. Khan currently has Y-plus security provided by the state government, in addition to his personal security team.
Different security cover levels in India
In India, the various levels of security cover, in ascending order, are X, Y, Y-plus, Z, Z-plus, and the Special Protection Group (SPG), according to the Bureau of Police Research and Development under the Union Home Ministry. The SPG is the highest level of security and is exclusively provided to Prime Ministers and their immediate family members.
The next highest levels of security are Z and Z-plus cover, which are granted to prominent politicians, business leaders, and VIPs in India who face specific threats to their lives.
Z-plus security includes round-the-clock protection from 55 personnel, which may include the CRPF and the National Security Guard if necessary. This level of security also provides a bullet-proof vehicle. In contrast, Z security cover consists of 22 personnel.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman have been allocated Z-plus security. Meanwhile, Union Minister Chirag Paswan, Baba Ramdev, and Aamir Khan are provided with Z security.
Y-plus security cover consists of 11 personnel, including two Personal Security Officers (PSOs) and other armed policemen, with the exact composition of commandos varying based on the threat level. Currently, BJP MP Kangana Ranaut has Y-plus security.
Y-level security cover consists of 8 personnel, including two commandos and six police personnel. In contrast, X-category security includes 2 personnel, comprising no commandos and one armed police officer. Vivek Agnihotri, the director of The Kashmir Files, has been assigned Y-level security.