MUMBAI: Serum Institute of India (SII) CEO Adar Poonawalla has informed Bombay high court that he “has not made requests for Z plus security and does not endorse any demands for Z plus security made on his behalf or for him by anyone.’’ The statement was sent to the HC on June 10 via a written covering letter through his lawyers Parinam Law Associates.
It sought permission to make his statement in a criminal writ petition filed by a lawyer Datta Mane for directions to the state government to grant him Z plus security citing news reports to allege threats to him for additional Covishield vaccines.
A bench of Justices S S Shinde and N J Jamadar was hearing the matter where advocate Pradeep Havnur for Mane had sought the security saying SII’s vaccines are life-saving.
The petition did not reach for hearing on June 10 due to paucity of time.
On Friday, it was disposed of.
The order is yet to be uploaded.
In its June 1 order, the HC bench of Justices S S Shinde and Abay Ahuja said it was furnished with a police report dated June 1 which stated that pursuant to the Writ Petition, a request for ‘Z’ category security for Poonawalla was made and he was provided with ‘Y’ category security, consisting of CRPF Jawans, in addition to two police constables provided by the Police Commissioner, Pune.
Public Prosecutor Deepak Thakare had submitted then that any request for Z category security could be considered after Poonawalla returns from England.
He had sought time to take further instructions after the HC during the hearing requested him to “talk to the highest state functionary in the home department…may be the home minister too”, and to make a statement on June 10 on how many personnel are detailed for Poonawalla’s security cover.
The matter had been thus adjourned the matter to June 10.
“Poonawalla is doing such a great job and playing a substantial role by providing crores of vaccines to the nation.
It is a life saver…service to the nation,” the bench had remarked during the June 1 hearing.