Bombay, Feb 22 : IIT Bombay live cartridges recovery: Bihar link under investigation
Five live 7.65 mm cartridges were seized from a hostel room at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay in Powai following a late-night security intervention triggered by a dispute between students.
According to officials, the incident began around 1:30 am on February 19 when the campus Quick Response Team alerted the security officer on duty about an argument on the ground floor of Hostel No. 1. The disagreement allegedly involved first-year B.Tech student Suraj Dubey (Room No. 93) and another student, Aman (Room No. 89), reportedly over a financial matter. Security staff stepped in and defused the situation.
During the intervention, personnel suspected alcohol consumption, which is prohibited within hostel premises, prompting a search of the rooms in accordance with institute regulations. While inspecting a black bag kept in Dubey’s room, security staff recovered five yellow-metal cartridges bearing the marking “KF 7.65” from the front compartment.
When questioned, Dubey allegedly stated that the bag belonged to his friend Apoorv Mishra. During subsequent inquiry, Mishra reportedly claimed the ammunition was placed in the bag by his acquaintance, Sarvottam Anand Satishchandra Chaudhary (23), a resident of Samastipur, during a campus visit on February 12.
Chaudhary was detained for questioning after returning to the campus on February 19. During interrogation, he allegedly admitted to purchasing the cartridges from Munger in Bihar.
Later that night, Security Sub-Inspector Amod Karanje handed over the recovered rounds to the Powai Police Station. An FIR was subsequently registered against Chaudhary under relevant legal provisions related to unlawful possession and transportation of ammunition.
Investigators are examining the motive behind bringing live ammunition onto the campus and are probing whether the case has links to a wider illegal arms supply network. Further investigation is ongoing.