Security beefed up at Patiala House

Security arrangements were beefed up on Friday at the Patiala House district court premises ahead of the scheduled appearance of Congress president Sonia Gandhi, her son Rahul and others on Saturday in connection with the National Herald case.

According to court sources, senior officials of the special protection group (SPG), Delhi police and Intelligence Bureau reviewed the security arrangements at the court premises where 16 more CCTV cameras were installed.

The sources said security personnel have discussed at length the arrangements to be made for Saturday as both Mrs Gandhi and her son are SPG protectees. The security officials also had a meeting with the district judge of the courts.

The police has made elaborate security arrangements considering the fact that the court is a public place where a number of lawyers and litigants come daily.

The sources said that shops inside the premises will remain closed on Saturday and the area near gate No. 2 of the court, where the courtroom in which the hearing is scheduled is located, will be cordoned off with a multi-layered security cover.

A senior Delhi police officer said: “We don’t want to leave anything to chances and will leave no stone unturned as the protectees have high threat perception,” adding, “We have called in extra force from all police stations in the New Delhi district to depute as many as possible at the courts.”