DE Bureau (Dehradun): Serious concerns have emerged over the process of issuing and transferring arms licenses in Uttarakhand, exposing glaring vulnerabilities in the state’s security apparatus. Recent revelations involving notorious gangsters and individuals with criminal backgrounds obtaining licenses with ease, often through forged documents, have sparked widespread outrage and prompted intensive investigations by the Special Task Force (STF). The spotlight is particularly on the case of infamous gangster Vikram Sharma, who secured a license from Udham Singh Nagar district and orchestrated a fraudulent transfer from Meerut to Dehradun, raising questions about administrative oversights and potential corruption within police and district offices.
The scandal has not only highlighted procedural lapses but also underscored how criminal elements are exploiting these gaps to arm themselves, posing a significant threat to public safety in a state that prides itself on being relatively crime-free. As STF digs deeper, officials anticipate more exposures that could lead to widespread license revocations and stringent reforms.
Shocking Revelations in the Vikram Sharma Case
Vikram Sharma, a dreaded gangster hailing from Jharkhand with over 50 criminal cases registered against him—including more than 30 murders—had been living a seemingly peaceful life in Uttarakhand until his recent demise. Police investigations have uncovered that Sharma obtained an arms license from Udham Singh Nagar district in 2021, issued without adequate background verification. Sources indicate that the license was granted based solely on a recommendation from a local official, despite Sharma’s well-documented criminal history being readily available in interstate police records.
Prior to this, in 2020, Sharma fabricated an arms license from Meerut in Uttar Pradesh and had it registered in Dehradun’s district arms registry through deceptive means. STF probes have confirmed the license was entirely fake, as no original issuance record exists in Meerut. The gangster used counterfeit documents to facilitate the transfer, bypassing mandatory checks. This blatant manipulation has left authorities scrambling to explain how such a high-profile criminal evaded scrutiny.
Sharma’s life came to a violent end on February 13, 2026, when he was gunned down outside Silver City Mall on Rajpur Road in Dehradun while returning from the gym. Police suspect his own protégé, Akhilesh Singh, orchestrated the hit through hired assassins, fueled by disputes over property deals and extortion money distribution. The incident has intensified scrutiny on how armed criminals like Sharma operated freely in the state.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Pramendra Dobhal addressed the issue, stating, “The issuance of an arms license to a gangster is a grave matter. The license in question was issued from Udham Singh Nagar district, and a thorough local investigation will be conducted. Additionally, we will verify the backgrounds of all individuals with pending criminal cases to prevent such occurrences.”
This case is emblematic of broader systemic failures, where influential criminals leverage connections to circumvent rules that ordinary citizens find arduous to navigate.
Busting the Fake License Racket
In a significant breakthrough, the STF dismantled an interstate racket in January 2026 involved in fabricating arms licenses and registering them in Uttarakhand. The key accused, Manoj from Shamli in Uttar Pradesh, was arrested in the Premnagar area of Dehradun. Authorities recovered a fake arms license, an illegal semi-automatic pistol (.30 bore), and five live cartridges from his possession. Investigations revealed that the license was forged in Meerut and Sirsa before being transferred to Dehradun using bogus No Objection Certificates (NOCs) and documents.
The gang’s operations spanned multiple states, including Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, indicating a well-organized network preying on lax inter-state verification processes. STF officials have noted that several similar cases have surfaced, where fake licenses from external states are illicitly entered into Uttarakhand’s records. This racket not only arms criminals but also undermines national security by flooding the system with untraceable weapons.
In response, the STF has initiated a comprehensive review of all arms licenses transferred from other states since 2015. A list of such transfers has been requisitioned from the Dehradun District Magistrate’s office. SSP STF Navneet Bhullar emphasized, “Upon completion of the investigation, any licenses found to be fraudulent will be canceled, and strict action will be taken against the holders and facilitators.”
This operation has exposed how criminals exploit jurisdictional gaps, forging documents to obtain legitimacy in new territories. Experts warn that without digital integration of arms registries across states, such frauds will persist.
Challenges for Common Citizens vs. Ease for Criminals
The arms license issuance process in Uttarakhand is notoriously rigorous for law-abiding citizens, requiring police verification, local inquiries, character certificates, and proof of genuine need—such as personal safety threats. Applicants often endure months of paperwork and scrutiny, only to face rejections over minor discrepancies. In stark contrast, cases like Sharma’s reveal how criminals with deep pockets and connections bypass these hurdles, often under the guise of “security needs” tied to booming sectors like real estate and mining.
Urban areas in Uttarakhand, particularly Dehradun, Haridwar, and Udham Singh Nagar, have seen a surge in gangster activity linked to property disputes, construction, and illegal mining. These criminals view arms licenses as essential tools for intimidation and protection, and the ease of acquisition points to possible complicity from within the administration. Security analysts argue that rapid urbanization has created fertile ground for such infiltrations, where economic opportunities attract organized crime.
Under Uttarakhand’s arms licensing rules—aligned with the national Arms Act—applicants must undergo mandatory background checks for criminal records, assessments of threat levels, and verification of necessity. For transfers, an NOC from the originating district is compulsory. However, the prevalence of fake documents has rendered these safeguards ineffective, allowing criminals to “sanitize” their arsenals across state lines.
Administrative Crackdown and Challenges
In the wake of these revelations, the STF and local police have launched intensive verification drives across all districts. Inspector General (Garhwal) Rajiv Swaroop has directed focused checks on property dealers, builders, and mining operators in high-risk areas like Dehradun, Haridwar, and Udham Singh Nagar. Tenant verifications have also been ramped up to weed out hidden criminal elements. This scandal casts a shadow over Uttarakhand’s claims of being a low-crime haven, highlighting the growing infiltration of gangsters into lucrative industries such as property development and stone crushing. With STF investigations ongoing, more high-profile exposures are expected, potentially leading to mass license cancellations and policy overhauls.
