File Photo: Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley (PTI Photo)
Security of Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has been upgraded to topmost Z-plus category and he will be guarded by paramilitary commandos drawn from Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) now.
The move to increase Mr Jaitley's security cover was taken by Union Home Ministry recently after assessing the threat perception of VVIPs.
A Rajya Sabha lawmaker from Gujarat, Mr Jaitley will have a pilot and an escort car accompanying him besides two Personal Security Officers armed with automatic weapons seated next to him in the vehicle he is travelling.
He was at present having a "Y" category security besides an escort provided by the Delhi Police.
"A security audit has been conducted and the Finance Minister will be secured by a paramilitary commando contingent. He will get the top category 'Z-Plus' security," official sources in the security establishment said.
They said the CISF has been tasked for the duty and a contingent of over 60 commandos have been earmarked for the task.
Under the revised security norms, the paramilitary commandos will secure his residence at Krishna Menon Marg in Luyten's Delhi and install a Door Frame Metal Dector (DFMD) for visitors.
Mr Jaitley's cabinet colleagues, Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari are also 'Z-Plus' category protectees of central security forces.
The government, sometime back, had accorded similar facility to BJP President Amit Shah and for Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh.