Last Updated on March 3, 2023 by Administrator
A two judges bench consisting of J. Krishna Murari and J. Ahsanuddin Amanullah noted that the Highest Z+ Security Cover that is being offered to billionaire industrialist Mukesh Ambani and his family must be available not just in Mumbai but also when they go outside of India. The Ambanis are responsible for paying the expense.
The Tripura High Court’s interim orders directing the Ministry of Home Affairs to produce the original files regarding threat perception in relation to Mukesh Ambani, his wife Nita Ambani, and their children Akash, Anant, and Isha were challenged in the Center’s Special Leave Petition by one Bikash Saha.
The High Court ordered that on June 28, 2022, an officer from the MHA shall appear before it with the pertinent files under sealed cover. A vacation Bench of the Supreme Court presided by J. Suryakant and J. JB Pardiwala, also upheld this decision of the High Court seeking the production of files.
A three-judge Supreme Court bench decided on July 22, 2022, that it was appropriate to dismiss both the petitions that were before it and the Tripura High Court. It dismissed the writ case and ordered the Union Government to provide adequate security and the Ambanis to pay their security costs.
For the Ambanis, senior attorney Mukul Rohatgi made the argument that his clients are constantly at risk of being targeted in an effort to financially destabilize the nation. This risk arises both in India and while they are going abroad. In answer, the Division Bench opined that a threat cannot be contained to a certain geographic area if security protection is provided for it, and at their own expense. Given that they conduct business both inside and outside of the country, limiting security coverage to a certain location would defeat the point of providing it. The miscellaneous motion at his request cannot be granted because the Supreme Court has ruled in its ruling dated 22.07.2022 that the original writ petition before the High Court lacked jurisdiction.
Case Title: Union of India vs Bikash Saha and Ors.
M.a. No.: 309-10/2022
SLP (C) No.: 11164-65/2022
Written By – Srijan Raj
