PM Narendra Modi's wife Jashodaben PM Narendra Modi's wife Jashodaben

Special Protection Group (SPG) chief K. Durga Prasad's unceremonious removal from his post has led to speculation about the reasons for his sudden exit from the force mandated to provide security to the Prime Minister, former prime ministers and their families.

The removal of Prasad, a senior IPS officer, happened in haste while Prime Minister Narendra Modi was in Nepal to attend the SAARC summit. Incidentally, the move came soon after interviews given by Modi's estranged wife Jashodaben about her security and other privileges she enjoys by virtue of being the PM's spouse.

Former SPG chief K. Durga Prasad Former SPG chief K. Durga Prasad

She had filed an RTI application, seeking information and asking for the formal order under which she has been provided security. The information about the interviews remained a secret and did not reach the prime minister. It is still not clear whether his wife is provided security by SPG or whether she is guarded by the state police.

Prasad's tenure had formally ended on November 2 and S.S. Chaturvedi, the next seniormost officer, will look after the charge till the appointment of a successor. The Appointments Committee of Cabinet has directed that the charge of SPG director may be looked after by the next senior-most officer till the appointment of a suitable successor, a government statement said.

Prasad was appointed the SPG director in November 2011. The name of the Andhra Pradesh cadre IPS officer (1981 batch) had been cleared by the Appointments Committee of Cabinet, headed by the then prime minister Manmohan Singh. Besides the PM, the SPG guards former PMs and their immediate family.

Earlier, there was a buzz that Prasad could be posted as Special Director General in the Central Reserve Police Force. But with his sudden removal, it is now unclear whether the officer will be given a significant post.

The Congress has, meanwhile, taken a dig at the PM over the Jashodaben episode. Congress MP Madhusudan Mistry, who had contested against PM Narendra Modi from Vadodara, had made an attempt to raise the issue in the Rajya Sabha but he was prevented from doing so.