Andhra Pradesh says Jaganmohan Reddy still has Z-category security cover

Hyderabad: The Andhra Pradesh government on Tuesday submitted before the Hyderabad High Court that it has not withdrawn the Z-category security cover to YSR Congress president Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy.

Justice Nooty Ramamohana Rao was dealing with the plea by Mr Reddy questioning the action of the authorities in withdrawing Z-category security cover provided to him since the last three years.

Former advocate-general D V Seetharama Murthy, appearing for Mr Reddy, told the court that his client had been provided with Z-category security cover with two chief security officers and 12 personal security officers in view of continuous threat and it had been reduced without there being any notice.

P Venugopal, AP advocate-general, reacting to a query from the judge, said the government had neither withdrawn nor reduced the security cover to the petitioner Mr Jagan Reddy.

The judge adjourning the hearing for two weeks based on the statement of the AG.

The judge refused to grant interim direction in another petition by YSR Congress MP Y V Subba Reddy seeking restoration of the security cover.

Former advocate-general, A. Sudarshan Reddy, appearing for Mr Subba Reddy, urged the court to pass interim orders by restoring the earlier security provided to the petitioner.

Mr Venugopal said that there was threat to the petitioner’s life and the decision to reduce the security cover was taken based on the recommendation of the state-level security review committee.