A routine night patrol in Bhopal has triggered a fresh debate over arms-licence rules and the private security details attached to political leaders. Kohefiza police station has registered a case under the Arms Act against Udayveer Singh Sikarwar, the personal security guard of Mohsin Ali Khan, AIMIM's Madhya Pradesh state president. According to police, the 12-bore gun in his possession was already running on an expired licence, yet he was standing armed at a public gathering surrounded by a large crowd.
How the case surfaced
The incident dates to the night of 11 June. A "Chai par Charcha" event was underway in front of a mosque on Karbala Road when a patrolling police team spotted a young man carrying a weapon. On being questioned, he gave his name as Udayveer Singh Sikarwar, a resident of Morena, and described himself as the personal security guard of AIMIM state president Mohsin Ali Khan.
Notably, the action did not stem from any complaint — it came to light during an ordinary check. When officers asked for the documents relating to the gun, they discovered that the licence had already crossed its prescribed validity period. Despite this, he was present at the venue with the weapon. Police seized the gun and cartridges on the spot and began legal proceedings.
Licence not renewed for 162 days
The most significant detail to emerge in the inquiry concerns the licence's validity. As per the documents, it was valid only until 31 December 2025, and it was never renewed after that. Initial investigation revealed that even about 162 days after the licence had lapsed, the accused was still moving around in public carrying the weapon. Police are treating this point with particular seriousness, with officers pointing out that once a licence expires, the person holding the weapon can no longer be considered a valid licence-holder.
What the law says
Under the Arms Act, every licence-holder is required to renew their weapon licence within the stipulated time frame. Keeping a weapon after the licence has expired, or carrying it in a public place, is treated as a violation of the law. In such cases police can seize the weapon and a criminal case can be registered against the person concerned. Experts note that the responsibility for renewing the licence on time rests entirely with the weapon-holder and no one else.
Whose guard was the accused
Mohsin Ali Khan is currently the state president of AIMIM's Madhya Pradesh unit. According to the party's official information, he has been entrusted with the responsibility of the state organisation and is running an organisation-expansion drive across various districts of the state, including Bhopal. The matter is being seen as serious also because the accused was allegedly deployed for the security of a political party's state president and was found armed in the middle of a crowd.
The road ahead
Kohefiza police have taken the gun and cartridges from the accused's possession into custody, though he has been let off with a notice. Police are now also examining whether any application had been submitted for renewing the licence. In addition, other aspects linked to the use and transport of the weapon are being looked into. Further legal steps will be decided only after the investigation report is in.
