Hyderabad: Telangana high court on Tuesday directed the state govt to continue the bomb resistant vehicle (BRV) allotted to former IPS officer and BRS general secretary RS Praveen Kumar.Questioning why notice was not issued to Praveen Kumar before the decision to withdraw the BRV was taken, the court remarked that though the authorities concerned have the authority, they were also duty-bound to review before withdrawing the protection.During the hearing, Praveen Kumar’s counsel informed the court that, having contested from Sirpur constituency, located abutting Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli, a left wing extremism (LWE)-affected area, and travelling across the state and actively involved in politics, he continues to face threat and that his case should not be treated like that of other protectees.In response, govt pleader (Home) Mahesh Raje submitted that Praveen Kumar did not work in LWE-affected areas after 2007, was not in active policing from 2012 till he took VRS in 2021.“Security review committee meeting held on June 1 reviewed threat perception of all protectees across the state, examined each case independently before coming to a conclusion. The petitioner was one of the hundred protectees whose protection has been reviewed periodically,” Raje added.While the 2+2 (gunmen) cover continues to the petitioner, Raje added BRVs allotted to DGP Operations (Greyhounds & OCTOPUS), chiefs of intelligence and Special Intelligence Bureau, and protection to several retired officers have also been withdrawn despite them having a record of working in Maoist-affected areas, and the petitioner’s vehicle has also been withdrawn since the committee considered it not necessary.In response, Praveen Kumar’s counsel stated that in 2019 he was instructed to be cautious about his movements, not to follow regular routes and other precautionary security measures, and now they come up with this decision even without giving a prior notice.“He has already submitted a representation explaining in detail the threat to his life and the court may direct authorities to consider it,” the counsel added.“Everybody’s (protectees’) situation may not be the same. Consider the representation and pass order,” the judge said.
