‘Passed undetected through airport scanners’: Man travels with live bullets from US, leaves loaded magazine in Bengaluru hotel

BENGALURU: What began as a routine hotel checkout in Bengaluru's JC Nagar quickly snowballed into a police investigation involving an American citizen, a firearm magazine loaded with seven live bullets, and serious questions over airport security checks.

Arman Mutaahar, 34, an American citizen of Indian origin, was arrested on May 4 after police recovered a Ruger magazine containing seven live bullets from a hotel room he had vacated. The case has now sparked scrutiny not only under the Arms Act, but also over how the ammunition allegedly passed undetected through airport scanners in both the US and at Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport.

According to investigators, Mutaahar claimed the bullets belonged to his licensed revolver in the US. During questioning, he reportedly told police that he had absent-mindedly stuffed the loaded magazine into a trouser pocket before packing the trouser into his luggage, unaware that the magazine was still inside.

Bullet in pants: Accused has no criminal history

"He has no criminal antecedents and there is no indication that he was involved in any illegal activities. But bringing a loaded magazine into India is illegal," a police officer said.

Police have since seized Mutaahar's passport, laptop and mobile phone as part of the probe. Officials have also written to the American embassy seeking details about him and the firearm licence he claimed to possess in the US.

Deputy commissioner of police for North Division, BS Nemagoud, said the case took an unusual turn because it was Mutaahar himself who initially alerted the hotel staff about the forgotten magazine hidden beneath the cot.

"After leaving the hotel, he called the reception and informed them that he had left behind the magazine with bullets. He said he would return in a day or two to collect it. But when he failed to turn up, the hotel staff panicked and handed over the magazine to the JC Nagar police station," Nemagoud explained.

Police later discovered that Mutaahar had arrived in Bengaluru in the second week of April and had been staying with his sister in RT Nagar. On April 27, for personal reasons, he checked into a hotel on JC Road in Jayamahal and vacated the room the following morning.

It was only when he did not return to collect the magazine did the hotel staff alert cops. Soon after, police summoned and arrested him under provisions of the Arms Act.