Dubai officials find gun in Wadia's baggage

A revolver and 30 live bullets were recovered from the baggage of industrialist Nusli Wadia last week at the Dubai airport where he flew by an Air-India flight from here, official sources said today.

At a time of high alert at all airports across the country, security personnel at the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport failed to detect the firearm.

The lapse that occurred on January 13 prompted Air-India to suspend two of its ground staff and launch an inquiry, the sources said.

The revolver and cartridges were kept in Wadia's check-in baggage and were found when it was being screened at the Dubai Airport. The weapon was confiscated by the Dubai authorities, and Wadia, the promoter of budget carrier GoAir and head of Bombay Dyeing, given a receipt after he showed his arms licence.

A spokesman for the Wadia Group said the revolver and cartridges were inadvertently packed in the baggage by his domestic help, who delivered it to him at the airport.