Hyderabad: Telangana high court has restrained the state govt from withdrawing the bullet resistant vehicle (BRV) allotted to former IPS officer and BRS general secretary RS Praveen Kumar, observing that the security arrangement should continue until further orders.Justice T Madhavi Devi directed the authorities not to recall the vehicle provided to Praveen Kumar till the next date of hearing. The order was passed on June 30 while hearing a petition filed by him. The court also directed the govt to explain its stand on the plea and adjourned the matter to July 7.Claiming that he continues to face threats from Maoist extremists, Praveen Kumar moved the high court challenging the govt’s decision to recall the BRV allotted to him.Gandra Mohan Rao, senior counsel appearing for the petitioner, informed the court that the govt was attempting to withdraw one of the most vital protective measures available to the petitioner without following any fair procedure and merely through an oral direction to the driver to return the vehicle.“No mandatory fresh threat assessment was held and no notice was issued to the petitioner prior to the withdrawal,” contended Mohan Rao.The petitioner, during his service in the police department, spearheaded numerous anti-Maoist and anti-terrorist operations and was instrumental in bringing hundreds of extremists into the mainstream, Mohan Rao submitted.The senior counsel further argued that Praveen Kumar had served in Maoist-affected districts such as Karimnagar and, considering his role in tackling extremism in those areas, the BRV should not be withdrawn and security cover should continue.
