The West Bengal administration has revised security arrangements for political leaders, former officials
May 18, 2026: The West Bengal government has further reduced security arrangements for several political leaders, former officials and other prominent individuals after reviewing their threat perceptions, official sources said. As part of the latest rationalisation exercise, police house guards posted outside residences of several VIPs have reportedly been withdrawn.
According to officials, the reassessment concluded that some individuals no longer required enhanced security and would continue to receive only the protection linked to their current constitutional or official status. Kalyan Banerjee and Rajeev Kumar will continue to receive the security cover entitled to Members of Parliament, while former minister Arup Biswas will no longer retain minister-level protection.
Officials also said enhanced security earlier provided to Kunal Ghosh after court directions in connection with the Saradha case has now been reduced to the level admissible to him as an MLA. The move follows the recent scaling down of security cover for Abhishek Banerjee after the change of government in the state. However, authorities maintained that there would be no compromise on the security arrangements for former chief minister Mamata Banerjee.