Haryana Lokayukta marks probe into arms licence for 'underage' Soha Ali Khan

Haryana's Lokayukta has marked an investigation into the grant of an arms licence to actress Soha Ali Khan by the authorities in Gurugram (earlier Gurgaon) in 1996 when she was underage.

The office of the Lokayukta has directed the Gurugram Commissioner of Police and Armed Licencing Authority in Gurugram to submit a detailed report into this matter on July 24.

Soha Ali Khan, now 38, the younger sister of Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan and daughter of former Indian cricket team captain and erstwhile royal Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi and yesteryear actress Sharmila Tagore, had obtained an arms licence (No.A1/DM/G/Nov/1996) from the District Magistrate in Gurgaon in November 1996.

In his complaint to authorities concerned, environment and wildlife activist Naresh Kadyan had pointed out that Soha Ali Khan had obtained the arms licence when she was still underage and had not revealed the fact to the officials.

The licence was obtained in the name of Soha Sultan. It was later renewed also.

The weapons, a .20 bore gun (NPB Rifle) and a .22 bore Rifle, were transferred in her name from her brother Saif Ali Khan.

One of the weapons was later used by Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi, who was the retainer of the weapon, in the illegal killing of a female black buck in Haryana's Jhajjar district in June 2005. A case was registered against Pataudi and five others by police in Jhajjar. The accused were later convicted by a special environment court in Faridabad.

"Ms. Soha Ali Khan also managed renewal of her arms license as well, from time to time, concealing the facts before the competent authorities, managed no-objections also from the police, adopting unlawful practices. The rifle was confiscated by the Jhajjar Police, in a crime against wildlife, committed by a team of Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi," Kadyan had stated in his complaint.

Soha Ali Khan could face charges of cheating (Section 420 of IPC) and other sections of Indian Penal Code and Arms Act if the investigation indicts her.

--IANS

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