Ahmedabad man held near Paldi with country-made pistol, 45 live cartridges and cash

The Ahmedabad City Crime Branch on Friday night arrested a 53-year-old man from near the Paldi–Saurashtra bus stand for allegedly possessing a country-made pistol, two magazines and 45 live cartridges without a licence. Police said the accused was also carrying a mobile phone and cash, taking the total seizure to ₹80,700. Patrolling team receives tip-off on illegal arms sale.

According to the FIR, a team of crime branch officers, were patrolling the Paldi area around 7.45 pm when they received specific intelligence that a man wearing a full-sleeved warm sweater with cream and mehendi-coloured stripes and light grey trousers was loitering near the gate of Narsi Bhagat Hostel with a black bag and was allegedly trying to sell illegal firearms and cartridges.

Acting on the information, the officers proceeded towards the location. The man, matching the exact description shared by the informer, was allegedly found standing at the spot.

The team immediately cordoned him off and detained him.

During questioning, the man identified himself as Kiritkumar Prabhudas Patel, a resident of Umedpura village in Idar taluka of Sabarkantha district.

A physical search allegedly led to the recovery of a mobile phone and ₹100 cash from his person, while a black shoulder bag he was carrying contained:

• One country-made pistol

• Two empty iron magazines

• A total of 45 live cartridges

• A Vivo mobile phone valued at ₹10,000

• Cash amounting to ₹16,000

The police said the pistol was operational and valued at around ₹50,000. The magazines were worth ₹200, and the cartridges together were valued at ₹4,500.

No licence or permit for weapons, says police

The FIR states that Patel failed to produce any licence or pass-permit for the pistol, magazines or cartridges. The weapons and other items were sealed in the presence of panchas and seized as evidence.

In all, articles worth ₹80,700 were confiscated.

During interrogation, Patel allegedly claimed that he had procured the pistol and cartridges about a year ago from an individual from Madhya Pradesh, whose phone number he provided to police. He stated that the handover took place near the Vadodara bus stand and that he had travelled to Ahmedabad to sell the weapons.

Police said the alleged supplier, linked to the mobile number, was not found at his given address in Madhya Pradesh and is currently absconding.

Patel was arrested for violating the prohibition on arms possession issued by the Ahmedabad Police Commissioner. A case has been registered under sections of the Arms Act and of the Gujarat Police Act.

The Crime Branch officers said efforts are underway to trace the Madhya Pradesh-based supplier and verify whether Patel has links with any wider illegal arms network.

Officials said the seized items have been sent for forensic examination and further technical analysis.