AHMEDABAD: A businessman from Jamnagar, Ashfak Khatri, holds a licence to possess a gun, but has not been allowed to buy a weapon for past four years. In fact, he has been refused permission to purchase a revolver forcing him to move Gujarat high court.
According to case details, Khatri was getting extortion calls and threats from the Chhota Shakeel gang and he had to file an FIR to this effect. For security, he sought a gun licence and his request was approved by the district authority. He purchased a revolver. In 2018, during a trip from Ahmedabad to Jamnagar, his weapon went missing.
Upon realisation that he lost his gun, Khatri went to Jamnagar police to lodge a complaint for the missing weapon, but he was redirected to Ahmedabad. His complaint was not registered as an FIR. He approached the Jamnagar district magistrate for permission to purchase another revolver on the basis of the licence issued to him. But he was refused the permission to purchase another gun.The reason cited for refusal was that he lost his first weapon and due to his negligent behaviour.
Gun permission refused citing negligence
He again sought permission to buy a new gun and argued that he continued to get extortion calls, but the authority continued to refuse permission citing his negligence.Khatri filed a petition in the high court last week, and his advocate Sikander Saiyed explained the case to the high court and submitted that the Arms Act is silent about any such provision which disentitles the license holder to purchase another weapon, if he has lost one.
Justice A S Supehia also posed this query to the government lawyer whether any provision prohibits a license holder from purchasing a second weapon. The judge asked to place before the court the provision in this regard and posted further hearing on Tuesday.
