Court orders inquiry in fake weapon licence scam

The Bombay High Court on Thursday directed the state government’s home department to hold an inquiry against the supply officers of the Raigad rationing office, who allegedly issued fake ration cards, thereby helping people secure fake weapon licences.

Chief justice Mohit Shah and justice SC Dharmadhikari issued this directive came in response to a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Atul Bhagat, which spoke about several cases where fake weapon licences were issued from Maharashtra to fictitious persons who did not have domicile in the state or reside in other states.

The PIL pointed out the case involving Jamshed Ashraf, a Bihar government minister who had obtained a licence from Navi Mumbai. It was also pointed out that the licence was obtained by securing a fake ration card from Raigad. The HC on November 5, 2009 had directed the Raigad supply officer to file an affidavit and subsequently initiated an enquiry.

The petitioner’s advocate said that the court should frame guidelines for issuing licences for weapons in order to curb malpractices, which the government in an affidavit claimed to have already issued.