Bombay High Court: Demand for Z plus security to Poonawalla, summoned reply from Uddhav government on a plea

The Bombay High Court on Thursday directed the Maharashtra government to respond to a plea seeking Z Plus protection for Adar Poonawala, the CEO of Serum Institute of India (SII), which is producing the Covishield vaccine.

The Bombay High Court told the petitioning counsel, "They have to keep in mind while arguing in this case that India's credibility is good and such actions will have an international impact."

Got 'Y' category security

A vacation bench of Justice SS Shinde and Justice NR Borkar said that Poonawala is doing a great service to the country. The central government has already given 'Y' category security to the Pune resident industrialist.

The bench said that he (Poonawala) is doing a fantastic job. According to our information, they have already been given Y-Plus protection. The petitioners are seeking Z Plus protection. If it is necessary, the state will provide more security.

The High Court has directed the government to respond to the petition filed earlier this month by advocate Dutta Mane. The bench has fixed the next hearing in the case on June 1. Mane in his petition has also requested the police to register an FIR and investigate Poonawala's alleged threat to supply vaccines.

The petition said that if the vaccine maker feels insecure, it can affect the production of vaccines. Poonawala recently said in an interview that he was being threatened by "powerful people" and pressured to give vaccine supplements on a priority basis.