Car Dealer Arrested With Firearm Magazine, Live Cartridges in Chembur

The Mumbai Police have arrested a 42-year-old car dealer after finding a steel firearm magazine and two live cartridges inside his luxury car during a naka-bandi operation on Sion-Trombay Road in Chembur.

The arrested man has been identified as Kamran Siraj Shaikh, a resident of Fakirwada in Ahilyanagar district. Alongside the ammunition and magazine, the police impounded his Audi A4 2.0 TDI car and confiscated his mobile phone. The cumulative value of the seized property has been estimated at approximately Rs 8.22 lakh.

According to the First Information Report (FIR), Police Constable Suhas Shankar Dupargude, 48, attached to the Govandi police station, was on night patrol duty along with fellow personnel on August 16. Following their patrol, the police control room directed the team to conduct a naka-bandi checkpoint on Sion-Trombay Road in Chembur between 1.30 am and 3.30 am.

Around 3.30 am, the personnel on duty spotted an Audi car that stopped some distance before reaching the checkpoint. The vehicle aroused suspicion, prompting the police team to approach the driver and question him.

The driver identified himself as Kamran Shaikh. When asked by officers to present the vehicle's documents, he allegedly failed to produce them. Police also questioned him regarding the purpose of his visit to Mumbai, but reportedly found his responses evasive.

Assistant Police Inspector Shrishail Gaikwad, the crime detection officer, subsequently arrived at the location with his team. During a search of the Audi, officers found a black plastic box inside a compartment on the front-left side of the vehicle. The box contained a steel firearm magazine and two live rounds.

Shaikh was questioned regarding the possession of the items but could not provide a satisfactory explanation or produce any licence, government authorisation, court order, or documentary proof permitting him to possess them.

Police arrested Shaikh and seized the magazine, cartridges, car, and phone. A case has been registered under Sections 3 and 25 of the Arms Act for possessing firearm-related articles without lawful authorisation and violating the arms prohibition order issued by the Mumbai Police Commissioner. Further investigation is currently underway.