The Delhi High Court on Wednesday adjourned the plea filed by Swami Chakrapani seeking Z-category security on account of threat from underworld dons Chhota Shakeel and Dawood Ibrahim.
A single-judge bench of Justice Rekha Palli adjourned the matter as Delhi Police wanted to submit certain sensitive information, before the court. Proxy Counsel for the petitioner submitted before the court that Swami Chakrapani had received death threats from Chhota Shakeel and Dawood Ibrahim on account of purchase of a vehicle belonging to Dawood. He added, on the account of the death threats received, Swami Chakrapani had received Z security in 2015.
The counsel submitted that, on September 4, 2021 another threat was received by Swami Chakrapani that he would be killed the same way as Kamlesh Tiwari. He apprised the court that Kamlesh Tiwari was a politician who was killed in Lucknow, in spite of the security provided to him. The counsel informed the court that without reason, his security has been reduced to X category from Z category. He added, the said security is absolutely inadequate and hence there is a grave threat to Swami Chakrapani’s life.
Advocate Ajay Digpaul, appearing for the Centre, informed the court that security is provided on the basis of an assessment carried out by the Commissioner of Police. The Delhi Police counsel sought time as the matter at hand, involved certain sensitive information and the counsels require further instructions from Delhi Police.
The petition avers Swami Chakrapani in 2015 bought a car at an auction at Hotel Diplomat Mumbai on December 9, 2015, belonging to Dawood Ibrahim, the very next day, Swami received a threat from Chota Shakeel.
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.
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The petition further avers, 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 5 lakh from Dawood Ibrahim and Chhota Shakeel to eliminate Swami Chakrapani, furthermore, on June 7, 2017, the above-mentioned henchman Junaid Chaudhary and associates were apprehended with arms and ammunition near Wazirabad, where the ashram of Swami Chakrapani is situated.
According to the petition, on September 23, 2021, the Centre downgraded the Z security to X security without any reason, leaving Swami Chakrapani vulnerable to attacks by Chhota Shakeel, Dawood Ibrahim and their associates.
The matter has been listed for further hearing on October 5, 2021.