Habitual offender Pradeep Patel convicted under Arms Act; fined ₹1,000 for spreading panic in Basantpur area
Published on: March 15, 2026
By: BTNI
Location: Rajnandgaon, India
A court in Rajnandgaon has sentenced a habitual offender to two years of rigorous imprisonment for illegally possessing a sharp weapon and creating fear among people in a public place.
According to police officials, the accused, identified as Pradeep Patel (25), a resident of Sagarpara under the Basantpur police station limits, was caught by the police after information was received that he was roaming in a public area brandishing a sharp knife and intimidating passersby.
Acting on the tip-off from an informant, a team from Basantpur police station immediately reached the spot and surrounded the suspect. During the search, the police recovered a sharp iron knife from his possession. The weapon was described as a pointed, strip-shaped blade capable of causing serious harm.
Following the recovery, the police registered a case at Basantpur Police Station under Crime No. 158/2025 under Sections 25 and 27 of the Arms Act. The accused was arrested and produced before the court under judicial custody.
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After completing the investigation, the police submitted the charge sheet before the court.
Delivering the verdict on March 9, 2026, Judicial Magistrate Manish Kumar of the Rajnandgaon Court found the accused guilty under Section 25(1-B) of the Arms Act, 1959. The court sentenced Pradeep Patel to two years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of ₹1,000.
The prosecution effectively argued the case before the court, leading to the conviction of the accused.
Police officials stated that Basantpur Police Station in-charge Inspector Aman Sahu and Sub-Inspector Naresh Sarva played a significant role in the investigation and legal proceedings of the case.
The conviction is being seen as a strong message against unlawful possession of weapons and acts that threaten public safety in the region.
