Jharkhand Finance Minister returns all 16 security personnel over vehicle row
Synopsis
Jharkhand Finance Minister Radha Krishna Kishore handed back all 16 security personnel and 3 government vehicles after the police headquarters not only ignored his request for an extra vehicle but reportedly moved to withdraw one already in use. He then attended public events in Ranchi without any escort — a rare and pointed rebuke of the state's police administration by a sitting cabinet minister.
Key Takeaways
Jharkhand Finance Minister Radha Krishna Kishore returned his entire security cover, comprising 16 personnel and 3 government vehicles , in protest.
The dispute began after the DGP did not act on Kishore's request for an additional vehicle to prevent overcrowding among his security detail.
Police headquarters reportedly sought withdrawal of one of the existing vehicles instead of addressing the request.
Kishore attended events at Khelgaon Stadium and Project Bhawan Secretariat in Ranchi without any security escort on Friday .
Neither the Jharkhand government nor the police headquarters had issued an official response as of the time of reporting.
Jharkhand Finance Minister Radha Krishna Kishore, a Congress representative in the state cabinet, has returned his entire official security cover — comprising 16 personnel and three government vehicles — in a sharp protest against the police department's handling of his request for an additional vehicle. The decision, taken in Ranchi, left the minister attending public engagements without any security escort.
What Triggered the Standoff
Kishore had written to the Director General of Police (DGP) requesting an extra vehicle to accommodate his 16-member security detail, arguing that the existing fleet forced personnel to travel in overcrowded conditions — rendering the arrangement neither practical nor effective. The minister described the situation as 'embarrassing' in his letter.
Sources indicate that rather than acting on the request, the police headquarters reportedly sent a communication to his personal secretary seeking the withdrawal of one of the vehicles already allotted to him — a move that evidently deepened the minister's frustration.
The Minister's Response
Kishore returned all 16 security personnel along with the three government vehicles assigned for their deployment. On Friday morning, he attended an event at the Khelgaon Stadium in Ranchi before proceeding to the Project Bhawan Secretariat — on both occasions without a security convoy or official escort.
In his formal communication, the minister maintained that operating a convoy of three large vehicles solely for the movement of security personnel was neither efficient nor justified from the standpoint of resource utilisation. He stressed that any security arrangement must be both practical and operationally sound.
Political Significance
The episode is being read as a pointed expression of dissatisfaction with the police headquarters by a senior cabinet minister. This comes amid broader questions about coordination between the state government's political leadership and the police administration in Jharkhand. Notably, Kishore's move puts the state government in an awkward position, given that he is a Congress minister in a coalition arrangement.
Official Response Awaited
As of the time of reporting, neither the Jharkhand government nor the police headquarters had issued any official statement on the matter. The standoff leaves Kishore without state-provided security, a situation that raises questions about both protocol and the practical safety of a senior minister. How the administration resolves the impasse will be closely watched in the coming days.
Point of View
Rather than address the overcrowding concern, suggests either a breakdown in communication or a deliberate slight. In coalition governments, such friction between a junior partner's minister and the state's law enforcement machinery can quickly become a fault line. The Jharkhand government's silence so far only prolongs the optics of a cabinet minister walking into public venues unprotected — an image no administration wants on record.
NationPress
3 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Jharkhand Finance Minister Radha Krishna Kishore return his security cover?
Kishore returned his entire security detail of 16 personnel and 3 vehicles after the police headquarters failed to act on his request for an additional vehicle and reportedly sought to withdraw one already in use. He described the existing arrangement as 'embarrassing' and impractical in a letter to the DGP.
How many security personnel did Kishore return?
He returned all 16 security personnel assigned to him, along with the 3 government vehicles provided for their deployment.
What was Kishore's reason for requesting an extra vehicle?
Kishore argued that 16 security personnel could not be adequately accommodated in the existing vehicles, forcing them to travel in overcrowded conditions — making the security arrangement neither practical nor effective.
Has the Jharkhand government responded to the incident?
As of the time of reporting, neither the Jharkhand state government nor the police headquarters had issued any official statement on the matter.
What party does Radha Krishna Kishore represent?
Radha Krishna Kishore represents the Indian National Congress (Congress), which is part of the ruling coalition in Jharkhand.
