Pune: After cancelling the firearm licence given to probationary IAS officer Puja Khedkar’s mother, Manorama, in the first week of Aug, the city police have so far issued notices to 150 such licence holders seeking an explanation for violations of terms and conditions. "We have given them 10 to 15 days to respond to our notices. If they fail to provide valid reasons within the timeframe, we will cancel their licences," additional commissioner of police (administration) Arvind Chawria said and added that only around 10 of them had filed their replies.
Chawria further said the notices were on the account of criminal cases registered against them (after securing licences), or they had not renewed their licences or had not purchased the firearm mentioned by them in the licence. Pune Rural police had on July 12 registered a case of rioting, threatening, and Arms Act violation against Manorama and six others after a video showing her brandishing a .25 Webley & Scott licensed pistol at some farmers on June 5, 2023, during an altercation over a land ownership dispute at Dhadhawali village.
City police commissioner Amitesh Kumar in the first week of Aug cancelled the firearm licence issued to Manorama in 2000. Kumar then issued orders to check if those holding such licences had indulged in any illegal activity. Among the examples of misuse of firearms was the incident at Vishrantwadi on August 12 when a security guard from Sinhagad Road allegedly carried his licensed air gun in publ.