Nagpur Bench of Bombay High Court dismissed plea against Mohan Bhagwat security expenses, citing incomplete facts. Court found petition lacked proper research, relying mainly on media reports without verified factual foundation for claims.
The Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court has rejected a plea seeking recovery of the expenses incurred on security provided to RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat from the organization itself. The court noted that the application had been filed using incomplete information, and on that basis dismissed it. Mohan Bhagwat currently receives Z+ category security.
The petition was filed by social activist Lalan Kishore Singh, who argued that the RSS is a non-governmental organisation and, therefore, the cost of security for its chief should not be borne by taxpayers. He contended that the security expenditure was creating an additional burden on the public exchequer, and sought directions to recover the entire amount from Bhagwat.
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According to the petition, approximately Rs 1.25 crore per month is spent on Bhagwat’s security. It further maintained that because the RSS is not a registered entity, the security costs should be recovered from Bhagwat personally. The plea also referred to industrialist Mukesh Ambani, claiming that the cost of government-provided security for him is recovered from him.
Court’s Reasoning:
Despite the submissions, the High Court observed that the petition did not contain sufficient or accurate details. Counsel for the petitioner, Ashwin Ingole, argued the case, but the court dismissed the plea, saying it was based on incomplete facts.
At the time of hearing, the High Court assessed whether the petition was maintainable and whether the real objective was public interest. The bench, led by Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar, found that the petition lacked proper research and was filed without an adequate factual basis. It also noted that the petitioner seemed to have relied mainly on media reports rather than independently verifying the claims.
The court further said the petition did not offer enough information about the petitioner himself, and failed to establish any genuine element of public interest an essential requirement for PILs.
Background
The matter originated from a PIL filed by Nagpur-based activist Lalan Kishore Singh before the Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court. The PIL challenged the grant of Z+ category security to Mohan Bhagwat. The petitioner alleged that a substantial amount of public funds reported to be between Rs 40 lakh and Rs 45 lakh per month was being spent on Bhagwat’s security, and argued this amounted to misuse of taxpayers’ money.
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On this basis, the PIL sought directions to recover the cost of the security arrangement either from Bhagwat personally or from the RSS. It also raised the argument that the RSS was not a registered body.
As a result, the Court dismissed the PIL, characterizing it as a “motivated” plea and an abuse of the process of law. It held that petitions brought under the banner of public interest litigation cannot be entertained when they are based on incomplete or unverified information. The Court also emphasised that security arrangements for individuals particularly those assessed as facing potential threats are matters for competent authorities and depend on security assessments, not public perception.
Since no substantive legal or constitutional violation was demonstrated, the Court declined to interfere with the decision and refused to order recovery of security costs, thereby allowing Bhagwat’s Z+ security to continue.
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