Palampur/Shimla, A day after Himachal Pradesh Police asked a Palampur-based businessman and his family to deposit ₹ 68.6 lakh in expenses incurred by the state government and police for providing them security since 2023, the businessman on Thursday claimed the protection was provided following a high court order.
During this period, police from various units were deployed on security duty. “I have received an email from the DGP concerning the withdrawal of police protection provided to me and my family. “The police protection extended to me and my family was not a matter of administrative largesse, personal privilege, or a discretionary facility granted at the pleasure of the state.
It was provided on the directions of the constitutional court for the protection of our fundamental right to life and personal liberty guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution,” he added.
The notice, however, goes far beyond a mere administrative communication and appears to disregard and undermine the binding directions issued by the court,” Sharma said in a statement. “On November 16, 2023, the Himachal Pradesh High Court in suo motu proceedings directed that police protection be provided to me and my family, and on April 19, 2024, the Supreme Court enhanced and protected the police security extended to me and my family,” he claimed in the statement. Sharma said it was “deeply disturbing” that, notwithstanding the judicial directions, he has now been served with a notice seeking not only to withdraw the protection but also requiring him to make payments for the police protection provided by the state. “The minutes of those review meetings expressly recorded that my family and I needed to remain under police protection”, Sharma said.
Nishant Sharma and his family received security starting November 16, 2023, after he alleged threats to their lives following a property dispute, according to the notice.
