SC Orders Z+ Security Cover For Mukesh Ambani And Family Amid Threat

The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the Centre and the Maharashtra government to provide highest level Z+ security cover to businessman Mukesh Ambani and his family members throughout the country and abroad. The entire cost of providing the Z+ security cover will be borne by the billionaire, the apex court said.

According to the Supreme Court Bench, comprising of Justice Krishna Murari and Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah, the State should ensure the security of Mukesh Ambani and his family within India.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has been directed to provide the security cover to Mukesh Ambani, his wife Nita Ambani and their children Akash, Anant and Isha, when they are traveling abroad.

The court said it found that the Security Cover provided to the respondent Mukesh Ambani and his family has been the subject matter of controversy at different places and in different High Courts.

"Having heard learned counsel for the parties, we are of the considered opinion that if there is a security threat, the security cover provided and that too at own expense of the respondents, cannot be restricted to a particular area or place of stay," the court said.

Senior Counsel Mukul Rohtagi, appearing for the respondent contends that the highest level of Z+ security cover was provided to the respondent, in view of continuous threat perception assessed by Mumbai Police and Ministry of Home Affairs and Central government.

He further submitted that the respondent is at continued risk of being targeted to financially destabilise the country and such risk exists not only throughout India as also when the said respondents are travelling abroad. It is also pointed out that respondents have business across the country as also around the world.

The court order came on a miscellaneous application filed by one in a matter pertaining to Union of India vs Bikash Saha. The petitioner has challenged the High Court of Tripura at Agartala which has directed the Union of India to produce status reports regarding the threat perception with respect to Mukesh Ambani.

The top court closed the writ petition as it refused to interfere with the High Court of Tripura at Agartala's direction.

(With ANI inputs)