Mumbai: Cops have no record of missing licensed firearms

The police have no records of missing licensed firearms and neither do they have information on whether or not any files are missing in the arms and ammunition department on such licensed firearms, according to responses to RTI queries filed by a Malabar Hill resident. These RTI responses are now part of the evidence filed before the Supreme Court in a separate case.

"This apathy should concern every citizen. This not only is a national security threat but endangers the lives of Mumbaikars. One would have thought that after gang wars and high crime rates, the police department would have learnt some lessons. But, looking at recent developments - a shootout inside a police station, the discovery of military-grade arms in someone's house and shootouts in Borivli and Ulhasnagar - it is clear that there's a breakdown of law and order, which is a dangerous situation for civil society. This is a fit case for the home ministry to probe," said Amrish Kilachand, a businessman from Malabar Hill.

A close friend of Kilachand, who did not wish to be named, said, "These instances [recent firing] clearly show the blatant misuse of firearms. The state government needs to take urgent cognisance of this. The Arms Act clearly states that anyone in possession of illegal firearms can be arrested, but the recent seizure of an MP5 submachine gun and two pistols from Mumbai raises concern about how such lethal weapons can be possessed without any fear of the law."

Moved high court

According to Kilachand, his late grandfather, Ambalal Kilachand, who stayed at Napean Sea Road, had two high-power licenced rifles and a licenced pistol while his late father Rajnikant, a resident of Malabar Hill, had a licenced pistol. "All of these have all disappeared without any records with the police department," he said.

"On further inquiry, it was revealed that there was an alleged forgery in the records of the arms department [Mumbai police] regarding my father's pistol and I lodged a complaint to file an FIR with Malabar Hill police station on February 16, 2021. However, due to their [police] complete failure and apathy, I was compelled to move the high court, which took cognisance of my matter and an FIR was lodged at Azad Maidan police station on October 15, 2022," he added.

RTI response shocking

Kilachand said the same apathy and lack of concern continues to date, despite him and his advocate having several meetings with senior police officers. "Despite various orders being given by the senior officers concerned, the Azad Maidan police are not bothered to probe the case."

"I filed RTI applications with the arms department of Mumbai police and was shocked by their reply which stated they have no record of missing licenced arms… their records are damaged and they don't know how many crimes have been committed with the missing arms," he said. Kilachand added, "It is unfortunate that even after an appeal order, the department concerned has not made detailed submissions to my RTI queries raised."

RTI queries and responses

>> Please provide information and full details regarding the number of licenced arms in Mumbai and Maharashtra including details of the date of first issuance of licence and last renewal in serial order This authority handles only work pertaining to licences related to Mumbai city, which has 11,507 arms licences

>> Please provide full details of missing licenced arms

>> Not available on record

>> Are any files regarding licenced arms in Mumbai missing from the arms and ammunitions department The department has preserved records from 1947. However, the records are old and in fragile condition

>> How many crimes of any nature have been committed by any such missing licenced arms?

>> No such information is available on record

>> Upon the demise of the licence holder, can the arms be sold/deposited to an arms dealer without informing the appropriate authority or does it need to be surrendered to the arms authority?

>> As per section 47 of the Arms Rules, 2016, action can be initiated. After the demise of the licence holder, his legal representative has to deposit the arms and ammunition to the in-charge police officer of the nearest police station or with any arms dealer holding a licence within three months.

11,507
No of arms licences issued for Mumbai