Sources have said that the recommendation to upgrade Mukesh Ambani's security cover to Z+ was formalised by the Union home ministry after receiving inputs, on the perceived threat perception to the businessman, by central intelligence and security agencies.
As Mukesh Ambani has now been accorded a Z+ security cover, the billionaire will now be guarded by a total of 40-50 commandos who would work in shifts to provide the cover. The cost of security will reportedly be borne by Mukesh Ambani.
The ministry had been discussing enhancing the security of Mukesh Ambani after a bomb scare at Antillia, last year. His wife, Nita Ambani, too, has a lower category of 'Y' security cover which entails a lesser number of commandos.
Sources have said that the security cover of Mukesh Ambani has been upgraded to the top category of Z and necessary communication in this regard will be made soon. Since Mukesh Ambani's security has been enhanced, the CRPF may be asked to enlarge the existing cover to 'Z' and include more commandos in its protection unit, sources were quoted as saying by PTI.
In February 2021, a Scorpio with 20 gelatin sticks was found parked closer to Antilia, Mukesh Ambani's residence in Mumbai. After the National Investigation Agency (NIA) took over the bomb scare case, assistant police inspector Sachin Waze was arrested for plotting the entire scene.
Mukesh Ambani is the 10th richest person in the world according to the latest Bloomberg index. Z+ has the second-highest level of security protection.
In August, Mumbai Police had detained a man in Borivali West area of Mumbai for threatening Mukesh Ambani and his family. After receiving threatening calls, the Reliance Foundation Hospital had lodged a complaint with the police.
The Supreme Court, in July 2020, had allowed the Central government to continue with the security cover of Mukesh Ambani and his family members in Mumbai. The Supreme Court order had come in response to the government challenging the Tripura high court direction on a petition, challenging the security cover to Muke.
The top court's vacation bench had stayed the orders of the high court on the PIL which had challenged the grant of security cover to the industrialist and his family members in Mumbai.
Another billionaire industrialist and chairman of the Adani Group, Gautam Adani, was accorded a 'Z' category VIP security cover of CRPF commandos by the central government last month, the facility being similarly made on a payment basis.
