NEW DELHI, Jan 17: Many perks come to Members of Parliament. But this is an unusual one: Webley Scott revolvers, Colts or Smith and Wessons at 10 per cent of their market rates. As many as 168 MPs have bought guns from the Customs between April 1995 and December 1998.Every contraband weapon that is seized by the Customs is sold to VIPs, most of them MPs, at throwaway prices. The customs armoury - which has stored Webley Scott revolvers, Walther pistols, Remington rifles, Berettas, Smith and Wessons and Colts at different points of time - sells the weapons to VIPs who perceive threats to their lives despite security provided to them.Former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar bought a Webley Scott revolver in January 1996 for Rs 9,000. Lok Sabha speaker G M C Balayogi bought his Webley Scott for the same price in May 1996 when he was an MP. Environment Minister Suresh Prabhu is the owner of an R S revolver that cost him just Rs 7,000. Actor-MP Nitish Bhardwaj's Smith and Wesson cost him Rs 13,000, while IndianOlympic Association president Suresh Kalmadi bought his Webley Scott for Rs 9,000. The market prices of these weapons (see chart) are four times or more in most cases and more than 10 times of the Customs prices in some.Others who bought foreign guns include BJP's Rita Verma (Webley Scotts for Rs 9,000), tribal leader from Madhya Pradesh Arvind Netam (Webley Scotts for Rs 9,000), BJP's Sumitra Mahajan (Webley Scotts for Rs 8,000), Union minister and Akali Dal leader Sukhbir Singh Badal (LLAMA pistol for Rs 7,000), former minister Kanti Singh (Webley Scotts for Rs 9,000) and Bahujan Samaj Patry's Akbar Ahmad Dumpy (Beretta pistol for Rs 5,000).The market price of all these weapons shot up after the ban on their import in the early '90s, but they continue to be sold for a pittance at the Customs. Import of any weapon is banned in India. The only allowance made is when there is a case of shifting residence. Despite the ban, custom officials seize guns every year and these are promptly disposed of toMPs.``Earlier we used to sell weapons to our officers,'' explains Donald D. Ingty, additional commissioner, Customs. ``We don't do that anymore. Now, the guns are only issued to MPs, as instructed by the Finance Ministry. The Finance Minister has to pass the order.''The procedure is fairly simple. Any MP who perceives that there is a threat to his life can write an application saying so and send it to the Finance Ministry. After having gone through the request, the Finance Minister has to authorise the sale. The only condition attached to this buy is that the weapon cannot be resold.Former India opener Chetan Chauhan bought a 30.06 bore Parker Hale rifle for Rs 33,000 in March 1996. His reasons: ``I needed it for my security.'' Chauhan clarifies, ``I was an MP from Uttar Pradesh those days and you know what the condition of law and order in the state was then.'' Chauhan adds that the rifle is still in his possession.Customs officers are complaining as they don't get the guns any longer.``Thereare numerous officers who have requested for weapons citing specific examples of threats to their lives,'' explains an officer. ``We probably need the guns more than anybody else. Unfortunately, we don't get them.''
