A tense situation unfolded in Mahim on Tuesday morning after a 35-year-old man allegedly barged into a medical store, pointed an air gun at the chemist and threatened him over an old personal dispute. The chemist, however, showed presence of mind, stood his ground and managed to drive the man away. The accused was later traced and taken into custody by Mahim police, officials said.
The incident occurred between 7.30 am and 7.45 am at A Plus Medical, Shop No 17, located in Om Sainath Society, opposite Al Saudi Hotel in Mahim West. According to police, the accused, identified as Saurabh Kumar Avinash Singh, 35, entered the shop with his face partially covered with a handkerchief, allegedly to conceal his identity.
Police said Singh pulled out an air gun and threatened the chemist, triggering panic. Instead of panicking, the chemist confronted the accused and chased him out of the shop. “The chemist showed remarkable presence of mind and did not panic despite being threatened with what appeared to be a weapon. His resistance forced the accused to flee,” a senior police officer said.
The confrontation, as captured by a CCTV camera, at the medical store in Mahim on Tuesday morning. Pic/By Special Arrangement
Following the incident, the chemist approached the Mahim police station and lodged a formal complaint. Based on his statement, police registered a case and launched an immediate search operation. During the investigation, police found that the accused and the chemist were known to each other and had a prior dispute. “Preliminary inquiry suggests the act was motivated by personal enmity. The accused appears to have acted out of anger stemming from an old dispute,” the officer added.
Using local intelligence and technical inputs, police traced Singh and detained him later the same day. The air gun allegedly used during the incident has been seized. No injuries were reported. However, it caused brief panic in the busy cloth market area, which witnesses heavy footfall during morning hours. Police are now verifying the sequence of events, examining CCTV footage and recording statements of witnesses.
Mahim police have registered a case under Sections 115, 351(3) and 352 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, along with Sections 37(1) and 135 of the Maharashtra Police Act. Further investigation is underway. “The accused has been taken into custody, and further investigation is underway,” said Mahendra Pandit, deputy commissioner of Police, Zone V.
Is a licence required for an air gun?
Under Indian law, air guns are generally exempt from mandatory firearm licensing, provided they fall within prescribed technical limits. As per rules framed under the Arms Act, air guns that operate using compressed air or gas and do not exceed specified muzzle energy and bore limits do not require a licence.
However, police officials clarified that misuse of an air gun to threaten, intimidate or commit an offence is punishable, regardless of whether a licence is required. “Even if an air gun does not require a licence, using it to threaten someone amounts to a criminal offence,” an officer said.
Authorities added that air guns resembling real firearms can cause panic in public places, and their use for intimidation may attract charges related to criminal intimidation, breach of peace and public safety.
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