Businessman held for getting pistol for ‘protection’ in Benagluru

Bengaluru: The Central Crime Branch (CCB) arrested a 26-year-old Jayanagar businessman, Syed Masood, for allegedly procuring a country-made pistol and 50 live rounds from a Bhopal-based courier, in what he claimed was an attempt to "protect himself" from the family of a woman he wanted to marry.Cops said they are yet to verify the authenticity of his claims. Police commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh said a team of cops, led by DCP (crime) Raja Imam Kasim, arrested the two accused, including the courier, on a tip-off. "The courier, Javed Alam, 19, arrived at Yeshwantpur railway station from Bhopal on Feb 25 and met Masood at a pre-arranged place. Cops arrested Masood when he received the weapon from Alam for Rs 45,000, and seized the firearm and ammunition," Singh said.
During questioning, police discovered that Masood had no criminal record. "As of now, both Masood and Alam are in judicial custody at Bengaluru Central Prison. Alam claims a senior associate in Bhopal gave him the pistol and asked him to deliver it to Masood for a commission of Rs 5,000," Singh added.Masood told police that he was in a relationship with a woman and intended to marry her. Her family opposed the relationship and arranged her marriage with a Dubai-based man. Masood's girlfriend told the man about their relationship, and he cancelled the proposal. "This is why her family is angry with me," Masood claimed. "Whatever be the case, Masood's decision to procure an illegal weapon is wrong," a police officer said.