AHMEDABAD: Gujarat ATS has cracked a major arms smuggling conspiracy involving bogus licenses originating from Uttar Pradesh, exposing a dangerous network operating across Ahmedabad and beyond.
Acting on intelligence inputs, ATS arrested seven accused from Vastral, Meghaninagar, Maninagar, and Adalaj, while two others remain absconding but are expected to be detained soon.
The arrested Sholesinh Sengar, Vedprakash Singh, Mukesh Singh Chauhan, Rajendrasinh Sankhla, Vijaysinh Sengar, Abhishek Trivedi, and Ajay Sengar had procured fake arms licenses by paying varying amounts, enabling them to buy and possess illegal firearms. ATS seized seven weapons, comprising three revolvers with 187 live cartridges and four pistols with 98 cartridges, totaling 285 rounds.
The racket’s mastermind, Devkant Pandey of Etah district, UP, orchestrated the creation of bogus arms licenses between 2019 and 2022. Pandey, aided by Rajesh of Etah, Mukesh Singh Chauhan, and Shyamsinh Thakur, fabricated these licenses in exchange for money, fueling illegal arms circulation in Gujarat.
SL Chaudhary, Deputy SP of Gujarat ATS, told the media, "Various individuals paid large sums to obtain bogus arms licenses: Mukesh Singh Chauhan spent Rs 7 lakh, Abhishek Rajdev Rs 5 lakh, Vedprakash Singh Rs 11 lakh, Rajendra Singh Rs 7 lakh, Ajay Singh Sengar Rs 7 lakh, Sholay Singh Sengar Rs 11 lakh, and Vijay Singh Sengar Rs 5.5 lakh. These licenses were issued by the Etah district authority in Uttar Pradesh, yet none of these individuals visited the government office themselves. Instead, they collected the licenses wherever Devkant Pandey directed them.”
"The accused admitted the licenses were secured solely by paying money, without submitting any documents or proof of domicile. A preliminary investigation is ongoing against those who issued the licenses, and further inquiries are being coordinated with the Uttar Pradesh office." Said Chaudhry.
Gujarat ATS registered Case under Sections 336(2), 337, 338, 339, 341(2)(4), 54, and 61 of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita, 2023, along with Section 25(1-B)(a) of the Arms Act.
All seven arrested are currently in ATS custody, with their remand extended until July 16. Authorities are actively pursuing the two absconding suspects to dismantle the entire network behind this alarming arms license fraud.