Government scales down Amar Singh's security

The security of former external affairs minister Natwar Singh on Tuesday was withdrawn by which also scaled down protection for several other VIPs including the Chairman of Schedule Castes Commission Buta Singh and expelled Samajwadi leader Amar Singh.

After carrying out an exercise to prune the security of "Z" and Z-plus category VIPs, the home ministry decided to withdraw security of 69-year-old Singh, sources said.

Singh, whose name surfaced in the oil-for-food scam in Iraq in 2005, was later expelled from Congress but continued to enjoy "Z" category security which entails 45 security personnel standing guard for the VIP.

The security of Buta Singh, a former home minister, has also been scaled down from Z-Plus to Z which includes withdrawal of elite National Security Guards, the sources said.

Buta Singh's name was recently embroiled in a controversy after his son Sarabjot Singh was caught allegedly accepting bribe from one person to settle his case in SC Commission.

Amar Singh, recently expelled from Samajwadi Party, will also see downgrading of security in addition to Madhya Pradesh congress committee chief Suresh Pauchuri, who had been enjoying Z-plus category security.