Lucknow Airport: Youth Held with Pistol While Leaving for Dubai, Supply Link Under Probe

May 1, 2026

Lucknow: A young man has been apprehended at Lucknow Airport while in possession of a country-made pistol. He had concealed the weapon inside his luggage. As soon as he presented his luggage at the counter for inspection, the pistol was discovered during the security check.

Airport security guards immediately alerted the authorities. Officials subsequently summoned the police from the Sarojini Nagar police station. Following this, an FIR was registered against the young man.

The police suspect that the pistol was intended to be smuggled to Dubai. The young man has been identified as Mahesh Kumar Chauhan, a resident of Chandpur Lakhpat Rai in the Gonda district. He is a 12th-grade pass-out.

Apprehended at the Luggage Booking Counter

The incident occurred on Friday morning. The young man, Mahesh Kumar Chauhan, arrived at the airport in the morning. He was scheduled to travel to Dubai on an Air India flight (IX 193). During security screening at the booking counter, his luggage was searched. The inspection revealed a 12-bore country-made pistol inside his bag.

Security personnel detained Mahesh along with the pistol and handed him over to the Sarojini Nagar police. During preliminary interrogation by the police, Mahesh stated that he was traveling to Dubai for employment purposes. However, he was unable to provide a satisfactory explanation regarding how the pistol ended up in his bag.

Police Seize the Pistol

According to police sources, Mahesh is suspected of carrying the weapon as a “sample” for an illicit arms trade in Dubai. The police have seized the recovered pistol. A case has been registered against the accused under relevant sections of the law, and further legal proceedings have been initiated. A detailed investigation into the matter is currently underway.

ACP Krishna Nagar, Rajneesh Verma, stated that a case has been registered at the Sarojini Nagar police station based on a written complaint filed by Adarsh ​​Mishra, a Level 2A supervisor at Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport. Further action is being initiated against the youth. His details are currently being cross-checked with all police stations across the Gonda district. Preliminary investigations have revealed no prior criminal history on the part of the accused; nevertheless, the police are maintaining a high level of vigilance.

Worked as a Laborer in Dubai

According to available information, the accused youth had traveled to Dubai in 2023. While there, he worked as a laborer. He had returned home from Dubai approximately five months ago and was in the process of traveling back to Dubai once again.