Additional sessions judge Ravi Kumar Diwakar, known for ordering a videography survey of the Gyanvapi complex in Varanasi in 2022, has informed Uttar Pradesh police of receiving death threats from international numbers. Diwakar, who has a history of security concerns due to his involvement in high-profile cases, has urged police to investigate these threats.
In a letter to Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Sushil Chandrabhan Ghule, Judge Diwakar mentioned that he was receiving threatening calls from international numbers, indicating a serious security concern, according to a report by the Times of India (TOI). The judge’s current security arrangement consists of two security personnel, but they are unarmed, making it difficult to ensure his safety against more heavily armed threats.
Previously, following the Gyanvapi judgment, the Allahabad High Court had sanctioned Y-category security for Judge Diwakar and his family due to similar threats, but this was later downgraded to X-category. In his current security setup, the judge’s aides have expressed concern about its inadequacy, as the two security personnel lack the weapons needed to counter modern armed attackers.
Judge Diwakar has openly shared his concerns about his safety and that of his family. In 2022, he stated that his family often expressed concern about his safety and that he was equally concerned about theirs. These anxieties were further fueled by a Popular Front of India (PFI) member who was arrested near the judge’s Lucknow residence last year. As a result, Shahjahanpur SSP Ashok Kumar Meena assigned a gunner to guard the house of Diwakar’s brother, who also serves as an additional district judge. However, this security detail was withdrawn due to ongoing Lok Sabha elections.
Judge Diwakar has recently been transferred to Bareilly, where he has taken suo motu action on the 2018 Bareilly riots case. He summoned senior cleric Tauqeer Raza to stand trial as the alleged mastermind behind the riots.
Given the severity of these threats and the judge’s high-profile role, the Uttar Pradesh police are expected to investigate the source of the threats and assess the judge’s security needs. As Judge Diwakar and his family continue to face security risks, it’s crucial that appropriate measures are taken to ensure their safety.
