AHMEDABAD: The state government on Thursday withdrew the security cover provided to 64 people, including 20 BJP ex-ministers, ex-MPs, ex-MLAs, judges, police officers and others. Top police sources said the threat perception to each of these persons was reviewed at the biannual meeting of various security agencies.While former IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt cried foul, top IB officials clarified that Bhatt was one of 64 persons whose security had been withdrawn. “Bhatt had been granted security cover in April 2011, when he deposed before a court and the Nanavati commission in connection with 2002 post-Godhra riots. A recent assessment found that he faces no threat from any organisation or person and hence his cover was withdrawn,” said a top IB official.Some 200 police personnel have now been freed from security duties. ‘These cops will now be deployed for public security and policing. The move will save approximately Rs 60 lakh a month,” a top IB official said. A top IB official said, “Bhatt has three licenced weapons that were given to him to protect himself.”A few eyebrows were raised as the cover for V L Solanki, the first investigating officer of the Sohrabuddin and Tulsi Prajapati encounter cases was also withdrawn. The list also includes inspector Divya Ravia, who had allegedly received threatening letters from devotees of Asaram. BJP ex-ministers Nirmala Vadhvani, Shankar Chaudhary, Jay Narayan Vyas, Jashumati Korat, Kanti Amrutiya , Atmaram Parmar, Kiritsinh Rana and Congress ex-MLA Shaktisinh Gohil are among those whose cover has been withdrawn. The eight former police officials have also had their security withdrawn include V L Solanki, Sudhir Sinha, K D Panth — who had lodged an FIR accusing Sanjiv Bhatt of forcing him to file a false affidavit — and Divya Raviya.The five judges whose cover stands withdrawn are retired Justices J B Shah and Z K Syed. “We are expect more people will have their cover withdrawn after the next review meeting.”

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