Overview
- Home Ministry approved the upgrade on December 26 on the Election Commission’s recommendation, with protection taking effect as SIR hearings began on December 27.
- A CISF VIP team of about 11–12 personnel now provides round-the-clock security to Manoj Agarwal at his residence, office, and during travel.
- Central personnel are posted on the third floor of the current office to control entry and exit, with plans to staff the reception when the office shifts to the Shipping Corporation building.
- Officials describe the deployment as a preventive measure to ensure uninterrupted functioning and the institutional independence of the Election Commission during the sensitive roll revision.
- Reports note Agarwal expressed reservations about a large security detail, while sources cite earlier gheraos by BLOs and concerns over the adequacy of Kolkata Police protection.