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Less protection? Security for Aamir Khan and Shahrukh Khan reduced by Mumbai Police

Less protection? Security for Aamir Khan and Shahrukh Khan reduced by Mumbai Police

Shah Rukh and Aamir are among the 25 celebrities who got their security cover trimmed
08 Jan, 2016

In the light of recent events in India, the Mumbai Police had agreed to beef up security for celebrities like Shahrukh Khan and Aamir Khan. But according to a recent assessment the two no longer need the extra cover, reported The Indian Express.

Shahrukh and Aamir aren't the only ones -- a total of 25 celebrities have had their security curtailed or completely take away. Senior officials stressed that the move was needed to curb ''unwanted'' security cover.

While Shahrukh was on the radar since 2013, Aamir got extra measures after he shared his sentiments about intolerance in India in November 2015. However now following an overhaul two armed constables will accompany the actors and will divide their shifts; armed protocol and vehicles have been taken back, officials confirmed.

"We were providing security to around 40 Bollywood celebrities. But now we have trimmed the list and have brought it down to around 15 personalities against whom there are genuine threat perceptions,” an IPS official confirmed.

“A lot of manpower gets wasted in providing security to celebrities, and it is at times unwarranted. An audit was recently conducted and security of over 20 personalities have been either nixed or trimmed,” another police source said.

The celebrities whose security is fully withdrawn includes director/producer Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Rajkumar Hirani, Farah Khan and producer duo Ali and Karim Morani.

Police said that the threats against SRK sprouted after his film My Name is Khan was released. Shahrukh has also addressed this issue by writing in an English magazine about how he was a 'soft target' and had to prove his patriotism for India, which further led to people being critical of his views.

"However, the latest assessment does not indicate any imminent threat to the actor and, hence, we have downgraded his cover," assured a senior official.

Aamir's security on the other hand was beefed up post release of PK because he was receiving extortion calls. His comment about being 'alarmed' by raging intolerance in India led to protests and a backlash on social media as BJP protested outside his house in Mumbai.

"Post their comments on intolerance, we had provided round-the-clock security to the two actors which included two armed constables and an armed guard on two shifts and an armed escort vehicle. Following the recent assessment, we have pulled out the escorts and the armed in-charge. Now only two armed constables will cover them in two shifts,” the senior official said.

But some celebrities will still get the desired security cover. Akshay Kumar and producers Mahesh and Mukesh Bhatt will be provided with adequate protection: "While Akshay Kumar had a threat perception since the release of his movies Khiladi 786 and Oh My God, he also received extortion calls from the underworld. He had also complained that he received death threats after he sacked his 46-year-old domestic help. The Bhatt brothers have threat both from the underworld and terror outfits like the Indian Mujahideen."

Bollywood icons like Lata Mangeshkar, Amitabh Bachchan and Dilip Kumar will have the round-the-clock security along with a police escort.

Comments

Hitesh Jan 08, 2016 01:16pm
A good decision. Police is supposed to work for safety of common man and not just a few celebrities (who create controversies to get cheap publicity)
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atheist Jan 08, 2016 01:19pm
They can afford heavy security cost , why government and common people tax should bear the cost of security expense. Common public are dying daily due to terrorism and criminals , why not common public should be priority. You can see with different lens but this government is doing some long pending good job.
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Ahmed USA Jan 08, 2016 01:25pm
Aamir, Shahrukh and Salman are the pride of Pakistan and India... People power is with them to protect and secure them... All of them have relatives in Pakistan and we Pakistanis are there to welcome them with open arms should they choose to relocate...
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Raja Ragu Raman Jan 08, 2016 02:10pm
They are billionaires, they can arrange private security for them. Let those policemen take care of common people...
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Sunil Jan 08, 2016 02:51pm
Threats are mostly from the Mumbai underworld, who try to extort money from Bollywood celebrities, and then the Shiv Sena.
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Ali Rizvi Jan 08, 2016 03:24pm
Good measure! Police in Pakistan needs to follow the same principle and withdraw security from so called VVIP's like politicians etc...
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original realist Jan 08, 2016 03:41pm
Mumbai Police have stated that security cover to both Khans has not been downgraded.
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Khurram Jan 08, 2016 04:12pm
why the govt should waste tax payers money on these people??? not required they are capable of putting their own security , and police do not need to give any protection to them.
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Navneet Jan 08, 2016 04:12pm
Its just not SRK or Aamir but all celebrities and Politiians who were given uncessary police protection has been curbed to reduce expenditure . These are few of the steps which Modi & Fadnavis has taken to reduce the uncessary expenseses. earlier Ministry officials used to get food from star hotels not only for them but for thier families on the pretext of extra hours work . all these expenses has been curbed and All executives who so ever travels overseas has been asked to submit the report and what action they would take to make sure ROI is achieved for thier overseas visit
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Indian Jan 08, 2016 04:41pm
if they need extra security they can hire private security or can even buy a security agency of their own
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Dan G Jan 08, 2016 05:28pm
No need to use tax-payer money to protect these celebrities, they are billionaires who should hire their own security!!
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Divergence Jan 08, 2016 05:43pm
I am really surprised that such celebrities who should mostly fall in either "Millionaire" or "Billionaire" category would need government's protection, aren't they self sufficient to arrange their own private protection?
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Nizamuddin Jan 08, 2016 06:37pm
These celebrities are billionaires and they can afford their own security. There are lot of poor people and farmers who are dying of hungar, this amount be spent on them.
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truth Jan 08, 2016 07:17pm
The security cover can be provided as long as the celebrity pays for it. Are they paying for the security ?
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Riaz Jan 08, 2016 09:07pm
These celebrities are billionaires. Why don't they pay for their own security and let the police protect the people who don't have the money to protect themselves? We have the same disease over here in Pakistan.
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Ajaya K Dutt Jan 08, 2016 09:40pm
AHMED USA - "All of them have relatives in Pakistan and we Pakistanis are there to welcome them with open arms should they choose to relocate..." - and a lot of Indians are at present wishing that they will. It is a win win situation. India is getting intolerant to those who would like Hindus as such to fair game. I personally think this mentality of perceiving Hindus to be fair game is the root cause of strife in whole of subcontinent.
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M.Saeed Jan 08, 2016 10:00pm
Security is just reduced, not removed!
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BRILLIANT Jan 08, 2016 10:24pm
Why give security to someone who is planning to move out of India with his wife as per her suggestion.
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Singh Jan 08, 2016 11:12pm
Good! Why should they be protected by police when they can hire their own bodyguards?
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John Jan 08, 2016 11:18pm
Fearing those who made them a celebrity. The public-money parasites should pay for their own security.
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NASH Jan 09, 2016 01:52am
Having big protocols and security detail is a status symbol in our part of the world. These celebrities are able to and should pay themselves rather than spending tax payer's money for their security.
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Amit Jan 09, 2016 05:17am
@Ajaya K Dutt what do you have to say about adman Sami, who just obtained Indian citizenship?????
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Malish khan Jan 09, 2016 05:43am
Why public money be spend on these super rich people for their security. This money should be charged back to these people.
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M Jan 09, 2016 07:45am
Have equal justice for all. If security to celebrities like Amitabh is same , then all right. Follow one standard of justice, Sangh parivar must accept Muslims as equal partner in all fields otherwise how it wants any relation with Afghanistan or any other Muslim nation.
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DIVAKAR JEEDIGUNTA Jan 09, 2016 08:02am
These billionaire celebs pay heavy taxes to government - one should think of this also.
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Hemant P Kulkarni Jan 09, 2016 10:47am
Hope Kiran Rao and Gauri Khan would now ask respective hubbies to really pack up and search for another country as their so called "security" has been reduced....
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Issak Jan 09, 2016 01:47pm
most of Bollywood stars movies were initially funded by underworld money before a crackdown when they got brazen by physically involving in violence towards some directors like rakesh roshan and others who didnt pay extortion money...including new actors ...its minimal now as most gangsters fled from Bollywood which justifys that they no longer require police protection as before ...these resources are required in many other areas ..
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Madan Jan 12, 2016 12:43am
Enough is enough.People in India should help them in restoring their images.No doubt they can afford expensive security around them but first people should not continue punishing them with derogatory opinions about them all the time.They are on the top of the cream of film artists of the Indian nation with good contribution to the charities.We should stop negative propaganda about them now and forgive them for their anti India feelings,if any.
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