The Uttarakhand High Court has directed Haridwar Police to provide security to the family of a whistleblower who exposed large-scale irregularities in Mangalore Municipality in 2018.
The division bench of Chief Justice G Narendra and Justice Subhash Upadhyay passed the order while hearing a plea filed by Mohammad Safi, a resident of Mangalore, who alleged that he has been facing continuous death threats since exposing the corruption scandal.
According to the petition, in 2018, the then chairman of Mangalore Municipality was accused of misusing government funds and committing multiple irregularities. Safi’s disclosure triggered an inquiry, which ultimately led to the disqualification of the official from contesting elections again.
Safi informed the court that since then, he and his family have lived under constant threat due to his role in exposing the malpractice. He claimed that the intimidation has not subsided over the years and that his life remains at risk.
The petitioner pointed out that the High Court had previously directed police protection for him in 2018, but despite the lapse of time, the threats have persisted. Safi reiterated that the exposure of widespread corruption in the municipality has left him vulnerable to retaliation.
Taking note of the seriousness of the allegations and the threat perception, the bench directed the Haridwar Police Station in-charge to ensure security arrangements for Safi and his family.
