Live cartridge found in passenger handbag at Sambhajinagar airport; 60-year-old arrested, later released on bail

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: An FIR was registered at the MIDC Cidco police station after a live cartridge was detected in the hand baggage of a passenger during security screening at the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar airport on Wednesday morning.According to the complaint lodged by CISF sub-inspector Hanuman Meena, who is posted at the security hold area of the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar airport, the incident occurred on Jan 28 during routine checks for an Air India flight bound for Delhi.Meena said he was on duty between 5.30am and 1.30pm along with assistant sub-inspector K S Pasbhar and constable Chandan Kumar Shah. At 8.40am, while screening passengers and their hand baggage for Air India flight AI 1836 to Delhi, a suspicious image resembling a firearm component appeared on the X-ray scanning machine. On physical inspection of the passenger's small handbag, the security personnel recovered one live cartridge of .38 GFL Special ammunition. The passenger was identified as Ramesh Sakrani (60), a resident of Rohini Sector 16, Delhi.When questioned, the passenger failed to give a satisfactory explanation, the complainant said. He also admitted that he did not possess any valid licence or authorisation to carry ammunition.The CISF officer added that passengers are clearly instructed at the time of ticket issuance that carrying any kind of arms, ammunition, or related material during air travel is strictly prohibited, and warning boards conveying the same are prominently displayed across the airport.Despite these instructions, the passenger allegedly entered the airport building with a live cartridge in his possession.Inspector Somnath Jadhav told TOI that the man and his wife had come to Maharashtra a few days ago, and had visited a series of religious places, including Shirdi and Triambakeshwar. "He said that he is not aware of the source of the bullet. We, along with the ATS, carried out his background check but did not find anything suspicious. He was arrested late on Wednesday. On Thursday, he was produced before the court, which granted him bail," Jadhav said.Based on the CISF complaint, MIDC Cidco police registered a case under sections 3 and 25(1B) of the Arms Act, 1959, and are carrying out further investigation.