Gujarat ATS arrests key accused in bogus arms licence racket from UP

In a significant breakthrough in the bogus arms licence racket, the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has arrested a key wanted accused, Sachin Jayaprakash Gupta, a resident of Etah, Uttar Pradesh. Gupta, the proprietor of J P Gun House, is alleged to have facilitated the illegal procurement of firearms by knowingly issuing weapons against forged documents and signatures.

The arrest follows the seizure of seven firearms and 285 rounds of ammunition on July 12, 2025, from a group of individuals in Gujarat who had allegedly acquired bogus arms licences issued in the name of the state of Uttar Pradesh. Those arrested at that time include:

1. Mukesh Singh Hukam Singh Chauhan

2. Abhishek Rajdev Trivedi

3. Vedprakash Singh Rambabusinh

4. Rajendrasinh Laxmansinh Sankhala

5. Ajay Bhuresinh Sengar

6. Sholesinh Rambabusinh Sengar

7. Vijaysinh Bhuresinh Sengar

A total of 12 individuals were detained in connection with the racket, and a case was registered under sections of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita along with sections of the Arms Act.

According to ATS officials, the investigation revealed that the accused had purchased weapons from J P Gun House in Etah without physically visiting the premises. Instead, Devkant Pandey, another wanted accused, allegedly forged their signatures in the mandatory register maintained by the gun house. Despite this, Sachin Gupta, the gun house owner, went ahead and issued the weapons, fully aware of the fraudulent process.

Following sustained interrogation and intelligence gathering, the ATS traced Gupta and took him into custody.

Officials further confirmed that Gupta has a previous case registered under the Arms Act with the Delhi Police Special Cell, strengthening suspicion of his repeated involvement in arms-related violations.

Sources said the ATS is now expanding the scope of the probe to identify additional beneficiaries of bogus licences and suppliers across state lines. Further arrests are likely as the investigation progresses.