The Delhi High Court on Tuesday allowed an early hearing on a petition filed by Swami Chakrapani, National President of Sant Mahasabha and Akhil Bharat Mahasabha, seeking Z category security on account of threat from underworld dons Chota Shakeel and Dawood Ibrahim.
Senior Advocate Vikas Singh, appearing for Swami Chakrapani, pointed out that the matter was listed for October 6, but could not be taken due to paucity of time. A Single-Judge Bench of Justice Rekha Palli listed the matter for October 22.
Advocate Gautam Narayan, appearing for the Centre, upon instruction submitted that according to the report of threat perception by the Security Review Committee of Ministry of Home Affairs, Swami Chakrapani has local threats against him and hence, X category security has been provided to him.
On the previous date of hearing, the matter was adjourned as the Delhi Police wanted to submit certain sensitive information before the court.
The petition averred that Swami Chakrapani had bought a car at an auction at Hotel Diplomat Mumbai on December 9, 2015, belonging to Dawood Ibrahim. The very next day, he received a threat from Chota Shakeel alias Shakeel Babu Mian Sheikh. The petitioner lodged a complaint on December 11, 2015 with Police Station Mandir Marg, New Delhi regarding the same.
According to the petition, on December 23, 2015, Swami Chakrapani along with his followers, publicly burnt the said car at a public gathering at Indirapuram, Ghaziabad. Ever since this incident, Swami Chakrapani has received numerous threats from Dawood and his aides.
The plea further contended that on June 2, 2016, the Special Cell team intercepted and arrested four henchmen with arms, headed by Junaid Chaudhary, who had taken a supari of Rs five lakh from Dawood Ibrahim and Chhota Shakeel to eliminate Chakrapani. On June 7, 2017, Junaid and associates were apprehended with arms and ammunition near Wazirabad, where the ashram of Swami Chakrapani is situated.
The petition said on September 23, 2021, the Centre downgraded the security cover provided to Swami from ‘Z’ to ‘X,’ without giving any reason. This was done in an arbitrary and unjust manner, leaving Swami and his family vulnerable to attacks by Chhota Shakeel, Dawood Ibrahim and their associates, it added.