![Sachin Tendulkar Sachin Tendulkar](https://thefederal.com/file/2019/06/Sachin-Tendulkar-PTI.jpg)
Tendulkar's security downgraded, Aaditya Thackeray's upgraded
Batting legend Sachin Tendulkar's security cover has been downgraded, while that of Shiv Sena MLA Aaditya Thackeray upgraded to Z category, an official said on Wednesday (December 25).
Batting legend Sachin Tendulkar’s security cover has been downgraded, while that of Shiv Sena MLA Aaditya Thackeray upgraded to Z category, an official said on Wednesday (December 25).
The changes in security cover were made after a review was undertaken by a Maharashtra government committee on threat perception to them, he said.
Besides Tendulkar and Aaditya Thackeray, security cover of more than 90 prominent citizens were reviewed by the committee at a recent meeting, the official said.
Tendulkar, a Bharat Ratna awardee, till now enjoyed X category security which has been withdrawn, he said.
Under X category, a policeman used to guard the 46-year-old cricketer round-the-clock, the official said.
Also Read: When Tendulkar battled cramps and diarrhoea during 2003 World Cup
However, the former Rajya Sabha member will be given a police escort whenever he steps out of his home, he said.
Aaditya Thackeray, the son of Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, has been given Z security cover, meaning more personnel will be guarding him now, the official said.
Earlier, the 29-year-old MLA from Worli in central Mumbai had Y+ security cover.
NCP president Sharad Pawar will continue to enjoy Z+ security, whereas his nephew and party leader Ajit Pawar retains Z category security cover, he said.
Social activist Anna Hazare’s security has been enhanced to Y+ from Z category, the official said.
Former Uttar Pradesh governor Ram Naiks Z+ security has been downgraded to X. Security cover of two former BJP ministers, Eknath Khadse and Ram Shinde, has also been downgraded, he said.
The security of well-known lawyer Ujjwal Nikam, who represented the prosecution in several high-profile cases like the 1993 Mumbai serial bomb blasts, too, has been downgraded.
Nikam, who previously enjoyed Z+ security, has now been placed in Y category with an escort, the official said.
Several ministers in the erstwhile BJP-led government may also see security downgrades in the coming days, he added.