(a) whether the Union Government is selling guns and non-prohibited bore weapons, seized by the customs department, to VIPs in the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) the eligibility criteria required for buyers along with the manner of disposal of such
weapons;
(d) the number of such weapons sold to VIPs during the last three years, category-wise;
and
(e) the income generated therefrom?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE (SHRI S.S.PALANIMANICKAM)
(a): Yes, Sir. The Customs Department is selling confiscated non-prohibited bore weapons to the sitting Members of Parliament.
(b),(c),(d)&(e): As per Policy guidelines regarding disposal of confiscated fire arms, the confiscated Non prohibited Bore(NPB) weapons are first appropriated for departmental use and for issue to departmental officers on lease for use during their service period. NPB Weapons available after meeting these two requirements are sold to the sitting MPs possessing valid arms licence on first come first serve basis on price determined by Joint Valuation Committee on the basis of prevailing market price after receiving confirmation from the MPs that they do not own/possess any weapon at the time of application and after obtaining approval of Minister of State for Finance (Revenue) in each case. Only one weapon is allotted to an MP from confiscated stock; no replacement is permissible and the same cannot be disposed off for a period of 10 years from the date of purchase. After this period or in the event of his demise, the disposal of such weapon can be dealt by the MP/his legal heirs in accordance with the general laws. Any relaxation in the existing guidelines would require the specific approval of the Hon`ble Finance Minister in each case.
The details of NPB Weapons (Guns/Rifles and Pistols/ Revolvers) sold from the confiscated stock to the sitting MPs for the last three years, category-wise and income
generated there from is enclosed as Annexure`.