The Supreme Court slammed the Karnataka government for demanding Rs 14.8 lakh as security expenses from Abdul Nasser Madani - accused in the Bengaluru blast case, as per a report by Amit Anand Choudhary in the Times of India.
The amount has been demanded by the government for providing security cover to Madani while he visits Kerala from August 1 to 14, to attend his son's wedding.
The apex court said that it is the duty of the state government to take care of the security of trial prisoners and the court also pointed out that police officers are given salary to do their duty.
“Is this the way you carry out the orders of the Supreme Court? Don't scuttle these things. We expect some seriousness on the part of the state. Your officers would be on official duty and they are getting salary. They would be entitled only for TADA and nothing else... . Use your common sense. While escorting, they are just keeping eye on one man from point A to B and from B to A,“ the SC bench came down on Karnataka government, as per the report.
The Karnataka police had asked Rs 2.5 lakh for the ACP who joins the security team and for the rest of the amount to be given to 18 other policemen who would be accompanying.
Following the SC’s observation, the lawyer representing the Karnataka government agreed to present a revised bill.
Madani’s lawyer Prashanth Bhooshan argued in court that when Madani visited Kerala the last time, he had paid Rs 18,000 and there were only four security personnel.
Earlier, Madani had informed that he will not be able to spend so much money to attend the wedding.
He also requested prayers from his well-wishers and announced that he will not be accepting any donations or help from any of them in this regard.
Following this, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in his letter to Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah, wrote that Kerala would offer security to Madani.