Patna: The row over the reduction of security cover at 10 Circular Road, where RJD chief Lalu Prasad's family lives, reached a crescendo on Thursday as the government restored the removed personnel but Rabri Devi refused to let them in.

Rabri had on Wednesday written a strong letter to chief minister Nitish Kumar, and she and her MLA-sons Tejashwi Prasad Yadav and Tej Pratap Yadav had returned the rest of the security.

Nitish on Thursday restored the security cover and sought a report from the home department - which he heads - on when, why and at what level the decision to change the arrangements was taken. Sources said Nitish expressed strong displeasure over the security slashing when he was out of Bihar, sending senior police officers into a tizzy.

"The chief minister has no control over his own department?" Tejashwi asked on Thursday. "Are police taking decisions on their own without the knowledge of the chief minister? What governance is Nitish Kumar talking about?"

His mother, Rabri Devi, refused to re-accept the security cover, even as Bihar Military Police commandos who had been removed from 10 Circular Road were re-sent from Dehri-on-Sone. Teams from the local police were also camping outside 10 Circular Road along with officers from special branch, vigilance and CID.

"I do not want anything. I want answers on why and who withdrew the security in the first place," Rabri fumed on Thursday. "The government has said that 106 security men were still on duty even after reduction of security cover. I couldn't find 106 personnel at my residence. They say they have withdrawn the house guards which were deputed in the name of Lalu ji. I want to ask them where are the house guards allotted in my name?"

A highly placed source said an inspector-general-rank officer who has easy access to 1 Aney Marg, Nitish's official residence, had played a pivotal role in reducing the security of Lalu's family.

"Desperate for a field assignment, he went overboard to please the CM," a senior IPS officer said, pointing out that the decision was a violation of the of Special Security Group Act, 2010, which gives lifelong security cover to former chief ministers.

The officer in question enjoyed good relations with an administrative officer, who is often seen at 1 Aney Marg. "Both the IG-rank officer and the administrative officer manoeuvred others to alter the security arrangements at 10 Circular Road," revealed another IPS officer.