In a significant move to strengthen firearm regulations and enhance public safety, the Mumbai Police have cancelled 524 gun licences and approved only 87 new permits over the last two-and-a-half years following an extensive review of existing licence holders.
Official data shows that the highest number of cancellations occurred in 2024, when 255 licences were revoked. This was followed by 242 cancellations in 2025, while another 27 licences were withdrawn between January 1 and March 31 this year.
During the same period, the issuance of new firearm licences remained limited. The police granted 17 new licences in 2024, 66 in 2025, and only four during the first three months of the current year.
Application approval rates have also been notably low. Of the 122 applications received in 2024, only 30 were sanctioned. In 2025, just seven out of 117 applications were approved. This year, authorities received 44 applications up to March 31, with only three applicants securing licences.
Mumbai has issued nearly 11,500 firearm licences over the years. However, a series of incidents involving licensed weapons prompted authorities to reassess firearm ownership across the city. The review gained momentum after the February 2024 killing of former corporator Abhishek Ghosalkar, in which the accused, Mauris Noronha, allegedly used a licensed pistol belonging to his security guard. Another incident occurred in October 2024 when actor-politician Govinda suffered a leg injury after his licensed revolver reportedly discharged accidentally.
According to police officials, licences were cancelled for several reasons, including failure to justify the need for a firearm, non-renewal of permits, criminal records, and misuse of licensed weapons.
A senior police officer stated that the initiative aims to ensure that firearms are possessed only by individuals with genuine security concerns. The officer noted that while firearm licences are primarily issued for self-protection, many applicants fail to meet the required eligibility standards. Authorities have therefore intensified the scrutiny process to curb the unnecessary spread of firearms and ensure stricter compliance with licensing norms.