Businessmen get more arms licences than cops: RTI

The number of businessmen seeking arms licence in city has outrun policemen in the last one year — April 2015 to March 2016. As per details provided under RTI, most of the licences were given in the 'other' category.

The details were provided to RTI applicant Chetan Kothari. Kothari in his application had sough details of the arms licences given to politicians, builders, businessmen, company executives, lawyers, film stars and doctors among others.

The information provided month-wise from April for the period 2015-16 states that a total of 175 licences were given. Of these, most went to those who were tagged in the 'other' category.

At least 41 businessmen took arm licences, followed by men in the police force. Their number stood at 25. Builders and doctors came after them with nine and five licences respectively.

"Businessmen are possibly being given more licences because of the threat they face from anti-social elements. Since there is no underworld threat that we hear of, these are probably personal threats that they get. A glance at the figures states that those in business and police force feel more threatened. They seemed to have clubbed the licences for film stars in the others category," said Kothari.

Licences issued

Businessmen - 41
Policemen - 25
Builders - 9
Doctors - 5
Company executives - 2
Politicians - 1
Lawyers - 1
Others - 81
Total - 175