Newspaper vendor held for keeping gun

Keeping a firearm to keep off his enemies was no excuse for crime branch sleuths. The cops also did not believe in his claim that the weapon was planted at his house by his detractors. Manoj Chaudhary, a newspaper vendor, was nabbed in the wee hours of Thursday by the crime branch cops for allegedly keeping a country-made pistol in his possession.

Cops also recovered a live cartridge and sharp weapon from his Lumbini Nagar residence. The crime branch sleuths under sub-inspector AD Rajankar had swooped down on the home of Chaudhary after a source informed them about the weapon in possession of the former murder accused.

Chaudhary was earlier booked for murder in 2006 but acquitted. He also had records of assault against him. Cops said that Chaudhary had been denying the alleged possession of the firearm and the bullet. During the searches, the cops had traced the firearm concealed near the toilet in the backyard of Choudhary's residence.

Chaudhary was likely feeling insecure due to his enmity with others which necessitated his procuring of the crude firearm, said a cop. Police said Chaudhary would be grilled in the custody for ascertaining the truth regarding the firearm.

"We need to know from where the weapon was procured and who helped him get it. We are in dark about Chaudhary's need to keep the firearm but he must have some specific reason to get it," said a senior officer.