Based on a year-old complaint from a resident of Sikandra lodged on the CM’s Portal and Jansunwai Portal, the STF initiated a thorough investigation, revealing shocking details. Those named in the FIR include national shooter Mohammad Arshad, media person Shobhit Chaturvedi, and retired arms clerk Sanjay Kapoor. Others named are Mohammad Zaid, Rajesh Kumar Baghel, Bhupendra Saraswat, and Shiv Kumar Saraswat.
Inspector Yatindra Sharma, leading the investigation from STF Headquarters Lucknow, discovered multiple discrepancies and forged documents, including age manipulation, duplicate licensing, and concealed identities.
Mohammad Arshad allegedly holds five licenses and is accused of faking his age to continue qualifying as a shooter. Mohammad Zaid similarly manipulated his birth year in affidavits to bypass licensing criteria. The retired arms clerk, Sanjay Kapoor, is accused of enabling these frauds through forged documentation and record manipulation.
Forgery, Fraud & Illegal Transfers: How the Racket Operated
The investigation found that weapons were often bought using duplicate licenses issued on the basis of fake missing reports. No actual FIRs or police diary entries supported these claims. For instance, Rajesh Baghel is said to have acquired firearms after falsely reporting his license missing, then reselling weapons in Aligarh before surrendering forged duplicates.
Shobhit Chaturvedi allegedly held a prior license from Tehri, Uttarakhand, which he concealed while applying for a second one in Agra using fake documents. Despite being born in Lucknow, he falsely claimed to be a native of Agra. The purchase of a Baraitha pistol from Shiv Kumar Saraswat was also made without proper paperwork.
In another case, Bhupendra Saraswat, reportedly underage at the time of licensing, acquired weapons without proper verification and failed to provide proof of a missing license when queried.
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Land Encroachment, Forged Records & Missing Oversight
The web of fraud extends beyond arms. The complainant also alleged that Rajesh Baghel was involved in land encroachment using fake property documents in collusion with tehsil officials. Investigations at the ADM level found that Bhupendra and Rajesh did not possess valid license documentation, further cementing suspicions of long-term systemic forgery.
After the STF probe reached Lucknow, some accused reportedly sold their weapons, fearing legal consequences. In the case of Zaid Khan, it was also revealed that he concealed his criminal background during the licensing process.
DGP Headquarters has ordered the registration of an FIR at Nai Ki Mandi Police Station under charges of cheating, forgery, and violations of the Arms Act. The case is likely to have ripple effects across other districts where similar licensing frauds may have gone undetected.
