Ahmedabad Crime Branch arrests arms supplier, seizes 6 firearms ahead of Rath Yatra
Synopsis
Days before Ahmedabad's 149th Rath Yatra, the Crime Branch intercepted an alleged arms pipeline running from Gwalior to Gujarat — arresting a repeat offender with links to bootleggers and bookies, and seizing six firearms in a single swoop. The case points to a persistent illegal weapons supply chain between Madhya Pradesh and rural Gujarat.
Key Takeaways
The Ahmedabad Crime Branch arrested alleged arms supplier Karansinh alias Kanchido Solanki , 27 , from beneath Zundal Bridge on S.P.
Officers seized six country-made firearms — four revolvers, one pistol, one 12-bore — and 21 live cartridges , valued at ₹82,100 .
Total seized property, including a mobile phone and bag, was valued at ₹88,300 .
The accused allegedly procured weapons from Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh and intended to sell them in Ahmedabad Rural and Mehsana district .
A case was registered under Sections 25(1-B)(A) and 29 of the Arms Act ; investigation is ongoing to identify the wider network.
The crackdown was part of a special drive ahead of the 149th Rath Yatra to prevent illegal weapon circulation in the city.
The Ahmedabad Crime Branch on Wednesday arrested a 27-year-old alleged illegal arms supplier and recovered six country-made firearms along with 21 live cartridges during a targeted crackdown launched ahead of the 149th Rath Yatra to curb the flow of illegal weapons in the city. The accused was apprehended from beneath Zundal Bridge on S.P. Ring Road, Ahmedabad.
The Arrest and Seizure
The accused, identified as Karansinh alias Kanchido Solanki, a resident of Hathipura village in Detroj taluka of Ahmedabad district, was detained following specific intelligence gathered by Crime Branch personnel during a patrol operation. Officers recovered four country-made revolvers, one country-made pistol, one country-made 12-bore firearm, and 21 cartridges from his possession.
The seized weapons and ammunition were valued at ₹82,100. A mobile phone worth ₹6,000 and a black bag worth ₹200 were also recovered, bringing the total value of seized property to ₹88,300.
Charges and Legal Action
A case has been registered at the Crime Branch under Sections 25(1-B)(A) and 29 of the Arms Act. According to investigators, Solanki allegedly admitted during interrogation that he had been engaged in the illegal sale of firearms and had previously been arrested in arms-related cases by Detroj Police Station.
He reportedly told police that he procured the weapons from Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh and intended to sell them in Ahmedabad Rural and Mehsana district. Investigators allege he had been operating in the illegal firearms trade for one-and-a-half to two years.
Criminal Background and Network
Police records indicate Solanki carries a criminal history spanning several years, with prior bookings under the Indian Penal Code, the Prohibition Act, the Gujarat Police Act, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and multiple cases under the Arms Act at Detroj, Becharaji, and Kadi police stations.
The Crime Branch said its investigation has revealed alleged links between Solanki and bootleggers, bookies, and other individuals involved in criminal activities in Ahmedabad Rural and Mehsana. Officials noted that Ahmedabad Rural and Mehsana police had previously arrested several individuals who allegedly purchased weapons from him. After securing bail in earlier cases, he is alleged to have travelled to Gwalior again to procure additional firearms.
Rath Yatra Security Context
The operation was part of a special drive initiated by the Crime Branch specifically to prevent the circulation of illegal weapons ahead of the 149th Rath Yatra — one of Ahmedabad's largest religious gatherings. Investigators are now working to identify the intended recipients of the seized weapons and the purpose for which they were allegedly being transported, with the probe also aimed at dismantling any wider procurement and distribution network.
Point of View
Bail, re-offend — points to a systemic gap in how arms cases are prosecuted and monitored in Gujarat. The Rath Yatra timing adds urgency, but the underlying MP-to-Gujarat weapons pipeline appears to be a structural problem that a single Crime Branch operation will not close.
NationPress
8 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was arrested by the Ahmedabad Crime Branch in the arms case?
The arrested individual is Karansinh alias Kanchido Solanki , a 27-year-old resident of Hathipura village in Detroj taluka, Ahmedabad district. He is alleged to have been operating as an illegal arms supplier for one-and-a-half to two years.
What weapons were seized in the Ahmedabad arms bust?
Police recovered four country-made revolvers, one country-made pistol, one country-made 12-bore firearm, and 21 live cartridges. The total value of seized property, including a mobile phone and bag, was ₹88,300.
Why was the Ahmedabad Crime Branch conducting special operations ahead of Rath Yatra?
The Crime Branch launched a targeted drive ahead of the 149th Rath Yatra to prevent the circulation of illegal weapons during the large religious gathering. The operation that led to this arrest was part of that broader security initiative.
Where did the accused allegedly source the firearms?
According to investigators, the accused allegedly procured the country-made firearms from Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh and planned to distribute them to buyers in Ahmedabad Rural and Mehsana district.
What is the criminal history of the accused?
Solanki has prior cases registered against him under the Indian Penal Code, the Prohibition Act, the Gujarat Police Act, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and multiple Arms Act cases at Detroj, Becharaji, and Kadi police stations. He had allegedly resumed procurement after securing bail in earlier arms cases.
