Date: April 12, 2025
The Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) has exposed a gang involved in acquiring weapons through counterfeit arms licenses from other states.
Senior police officials of Gujarat instructed ATS officers to maintain surveillance on organized crime. This directive led to increased monitoring of narcotics, arms, and other organized criminal activities.
ATS Deputy Superintendent of Police, S.L. Choudhari, received a tip-off that (1) Vishal Pandya, (2) Dhvanit Mehta, (3) Arjun Algotar, (4) Dhairya Zariwala, (5) Shelabhai Bharwad, and (6) Mukesh Bambha had paid substantial sums of money to Shaukat Ali, Faruk Ali, Sohim Ali, and Asif, who run a gun shop in Nuh, Haryana, to obtain bogus arms licenses in their names from Manipur and Nagaland and subsequently acquire weapons. It was also revealed that they facilitated bogus arms licenses and weapons for their gang members and numerous others in Gujarat.
Based on this information, a case was registered at ATS Police Station on April 7, 2025, under Crime No. I-02/2025, invoking sections of the Arms Act against seven individuals: (1) Selabhai Velabhai Boliya, (2) Vishal Mukeshbhai Pandya, (3) Arjun Lakhubhai Algotar, (4) Dhairya Hemantbhai Zariwala, (5) Saddam Hussain, (6) Brijesh alias Bittu Mehta, and (7) Mukesh Ranchhodbhai Bambha.
During the interrogation, the involvement of 49 individuals in the racket of obtaining weapons through fake arms licenses from other states came to light, with 16 already arrested. The mastermind behind the bogus arms license operation, Shaukat Ali Chhotukhan, who owns an arms shop in Nuh, Haryana, was apprehended by ATS Gujarat from Nagaland on April 8, 2025, and brought to Gujarat.
Furthermore, 16 more individuals from the gang involved in obtaining weapons were arrested: (1) Gopal Hirabhai Jograna, (2) Varjang Hanubhai Mir, (3) Digesh Karshanbhai Sabhad, (4) Hari Ranubhai Jograna, (5) Ramesh Kunwarabhai Varu, (6) Mayur Laxmanbhai Sondla, (7) Ashok Rameshbhai Kalotra, (8) Bharat Rameshbhai Algotar, (9) Nathu Kalabhai Bambhva, (10) Umesh @ Babubhai Dahyabhai Aal, (11) Rahul Jagabhai Algotar, and (12) Roopa Khodabhai Jograna were arrested on 11/04/2025 at 9:00 PM.
Additionally, (13) Jayesh @ Nanu Devabhai Saraiya, (14) Kanu Vanabhai Gamara, (15) Piyush @ Ballu Hirabhai Desai, and (16) Satish Mohan Gamara were arrested on 11/04/2025 at 11:45 PM. Some of the arrested individuals have prior criminal records.
From the 16 recently arrested, 04 individuals, (1) Jayesh @ Nanu Devabhai Saraiya (2) Kanu Vanabhai Gamara (3) Piyush @ Ballu Hirabhai Desai and (04) Satish Mohan Gamara, 04 revolvers, 141 rounds, 04 12 bore guns and 170 rounds, total 08 weapons and 311 rounds have been recovered and seized. The weapons of the remaining 12 individuals have been deposited at S.O.G. office, Surendranagar. ATS Gujarat has registered a case against the 16 individuals under the Arms Act and initiated legal proceedings.
So far, Gujarat ATS has arrested 40 individuals involved in obtaining weapons through bogus arms licenses from other states, and recovered and seized 29 weapons and 935 rounds. Furthermore, a total of 108 individuals are suspected of obtaining weapons through dubious means, and there is a possibility of more weapon recoveries. Gujarat ATS is conducting an intensive investigation into others involved in this criminal activity.
Details of Arrested Individuals and Seized Amounts:
* Nathu Kalabhai Bambhva: Rs. 8,50,000/- (Cases – 1)
* Shaukat Ali Syed Chhotukhan Syed (Cases – 3)
* Piyush Hira Desai: Rs. 13,00,000/- (Cases – 0)
* Rahul Jaga Algota: Rs. 2,30,000/- (Cases – 3)
* Ramesh Kunwarabhai Varu: Rs. 17,80,000/- (Cases – 0)
* Hari Ranubhai Jograna: Rs. 15,00,000/- (Cases – 0)
* Kanu Vanabhai Gamara: Rs. 13,00,000/- (Cases – 2)
* Jayesh Devabhai Saraiya: Rs. 13,00,000/- (Cases – 0)
* Mayur Laxman Sondla: Rs. 10,00,000/- (Cases – 1)
* Ashok Rameshbhai Kalotra: Rs. 19,20,000/- (Cases – 2)
* Bharat Algotar: Rs. 15,13,000/- (Cases – 3)
* Digesh Karshan Sabhad: Rs. 1,50,000/- (Cases – 0)
* Gopal Hira Jograna: Rs. 8,00,000/- (Cases – 1)
* Roopa Khodabhai Jograna: Rs. 8,20,000/- (Cases – 0)
* Satish Mohan Gamara: Rs. 13,00,000/- (Cases – 1)
* Umesh Dahyabhai Aal: Rs. 17,00,000/- (Cases – 1)
* Varjang Hanubhai Mir: Rs. 5,25,000/- (Cases – 0)
