Fetish for firearms lands retired IAF officer behind bars

Ammunition that he had bought 25 years ago, landed a retired flight lieutenant of the Indian Air Force in trouble on Monday. HT reports.

Ammunition that he had bought 25 years ago, landed a retired flight lieutenant of the Indian Air Force in trouble on Monday.

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Brijbhushan, 76, was caught with live cartridges while trying to board a flight at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA). Police said Brijbhushan was leaving India to settle in London but did not want to leave behind 33 cartridges of .45 bore, a prohibited bore, which he had kept with him from the past 25 years.

"During the screening of his check-in baggage, the Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) staff noticed cartridges. His baggage was kept aside and police was informed. He couldn't produce any document and was arrested," a senior police officer said. A case under Arms Act has been registered against him. Brijbhushan, a resident of Vikaspuri in west Delhi was on his way to London by Virgin Atlantic flight VS 301.

During interrogation Brijbhushan told the police that he was planning to settle down in London along with other family members who are already there. His arms licence had expired in 1986 but he kept the cartridges as he did not want to throw them.

He had kept the bullets neatly wrapped in a packet inside check-in baggage.