Pune: 63-Year-Old Passenger Caught with Revolver and Cartridges in Bag at Pune Airport, Heading to Varanasi
Pune: 63-Year-Old Passenger Caught with Revolver and Cartridges in Bag at Pune Airport, Heading to Varanasi
It was a busy Sunday at Pune International Airport when security officers discovered something that stopped them in their tracks. A revolver and five live bullets were found inside the bag of a 63-year-old man during routine baggage checks. The discovery quickly turned the usual flow of travelers into a scene of serious investigation.
The incident happened on September 19 while the passenger, Chandrakant Prabhakar Bagal, was preparing to board a flight from Pune to Varanasi. His bag went through the Level 2B screening machine, the stage where baggage is scanned more carefully before being cleared for loading. It was at this checkpoint that security staff noticed the revolver and ammunition, immediately raising the alarm. The screening team alerted the airport authorities without delay, ensuring the passenger was stopped before boarding.
When officials questioned Bagal, they found that he did hold a legal license for the revolver, but it was valid only within the state of Maharashtra. His ticket, however, was for Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, which meant he was about to travel outside the state without following the special rules required for carrying a firearm. This raised concerns for the airport security team, as carrying a weapon across state lines without prior clearance breaks aviation safety regulations.
Aviation Rules
Airport police explained that the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security has clear rules. Anyone carrying a firearm or bullets must report it before boarding, especially when travelling beyond the state where the license was issued. These rules are meant to keep passengers and crew safe and to prevent dangerous mid-flight situations. The fact that the revolver and bullets were found during routine checks shows how these security measures work to protect everyone.
After confirming the details, the authorities registered a case against Bagal at Vimantal police station under the Arms Act. The police began a probe to understand why he carried the revolver and cartridges on a commercial flight and whether he intended to declare them later or had overlooked the rules. Investigators said they will look closely into the matter before deciding the next steps.
A Week of Trouble at the Airport
This incident came just a week later, when on September 16, six young rifle shooters from Pune missed their Akasa Air flight to Goa after long delays in security and baggage checks. Social activist Vijay Kumbhar said the mix-up over rifle clearance cost them a key chance to qualify for international events and tagged Union Minister Murlidhar Mohol on social media, calling it airport mismanagement.
