Bengaluru: The Bengaluru Police’s Central Crime Branch (CCB) has arrested the alleged mastermind behind an illegal firearm manufacturing and distribution network that had reportedly been operating for over a decade.

The accused, identified as Zanjir alias Papad (40), is a resident of Singhana village in Dhar district of Madhya Pradesh. Police said he was involved in manufacturing country-made pistols and supplying them to buyers across multiple states.

Arrest follows months-long investigation

The arrest comes as part of an investigation launched after the CCB registered a case on February 25 relating to the illegal transportation and possession of prohibited firearms.

Earlier in the probe, police had arrested three suspects and seized four 0.32 mm pistols, 52 live cartridges, spare parts of a revolver and three mobile phones.

Based on information gathered during the investigation, a CCB Economic Offences Wing team, supervised by ACP H.K. Mahanand and led by Inspector Hemanth Kumar M, arrested the key accused from his native village on July 13 with the assistance of the local police.

Firearms sold across states

According to investigators, Zanjir allegedly operated an illegal arms manufacturing unit and sold country-made pistols for around ₹20,000 to local buyers and ₹50,000 to customers from other states.

During interrogation, the accused reportedly admitted to running the illegal operation to earn easy money.

Bengaluru Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh said the accused is currently in police custody and that the operation was being run “like a factory”. Police have so far recovered five firearms, including one seized from the key accused.

Illegal unit reportedly active since 2012

A senior CCB officer said the clandestine arms manufacturing unit had allegedly been operating since 2012, supplying firearms to different parts of the country.

Police suspect that a large number of illegal weapons may have been sold over the years, though the accused claimed he could not recall the exact number.

Further investigation is underway to identify the network of buyers and other individuals connected to the racket.