Mumbai’s prestigious IIT Bombay campus was thrust into the spotlight after security personnel discovered five live 7.65mm cartridges hidden in a student’s bag inside a hostel room. The incident, which unfolded in Hostel Number 1, has prompted a swift police investigation under the Arms Act.
It all began with a minor scuffle between two students over a financial dispute on the ground floor of the hostel. As security guards intervened to calm Suraj Dubey from Room 93 and Aman from Room 89, they detected the smell of alcohol emanating from Dubey and his friend Apurva Mishra. Following protocol, a routine search of their rooms was conducted.
The search yielded a shocking find: inside a black bag in Dubey’s room lay five ‘KF 7.65’ marked live cartridges, valued at approximately ₹3,500. When questioned, Dubey pointed fingers at Mishra, who in turn implicated their mutual friend, Sarvottam Anand Satishchandra Chaudhary, a 23-year-old from Samastipur, Bihar.
Pawai police were immediately notified and registered a case against Chaudhary. During interrogation, he allegedly confessed to procuring the ammunition from Munger, Bihar—a region notorious for illegal arms trade. Authorities are now probing deeper into potential supply chains and the intent behind possessing these cartridges on campus.
A dedicated team has been formed to track down the seller based on Chaudhary’s leads. Investigators are also scrutinizing whether he distributed any cartridges to others, raising concerns about campus safety at one of India’s top engineering institutes. IIT Bombay officials have assured full cooperation with law enforcement, emphasizing their zero-tolerance policy for such violations.
This episode underscores the challenges of maintaining security in high-pressure academic environments where students from across the country converge. As the probe intensifies, the nation watches closely for revelations that could expose larger networks threatening educational sanctity.