CM Suvendu Adhikari revokes Z+ security cover of Abhishek Banerjee

West Bengal government, led by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, has withdrawn the Z+ category security previously provided to Trinamool Congress (TMC) National General Secretary and Diamond Harbour MP Abhishek Banerjee. The decision was reportedly finalized during the Chief Minister’s first series of high-level meetings with top police officials at Nabanna on Monday.

Moving forward, Banerjee will receive the standard security protocol typically accorded to a Member of Parliament, effectively ending the extensive VVIP protection he held during the previous administration. The withdrawal marks a visible shift in the security landscape of South Kolkata.

For years, Banerjee's residence, "Shantiniketan" on Harish Mukherjee Road, and his offices on Camac Street were heavily fortified with round-the-clock police kiosks, barricades, and specialized bomb disposal squads. Critics had frequently questioned why an MP without a ministerial portfolio was granted such a high level of protection. Following today's order, the "area security" that restricted public access around these locations has been dismantled, allowing locals and traffic to move freely for the first time in years.