BENGALURU
A routine day at the BESCOM office in Rajarajeshwarinagar turned tense after a loaded revolver was found inside the men’s toilet, triggering panic among staff and prompting an immediate police response.
The weapon was first discovered by an electrical contractor, Annappa, who had gone to use the toilet on the first floor on April 9. On noticing the unattended firearm, he was unsure whether it was real or a potential threat and immediately alerted BESCOM officials.
Office Manager and Assistant Accountant Manjula, W-7 sub-division, BESCOM, Rajarajeshwarinagar, then contacted the emergency helpline 112. Hoysala police personnel arrived at the spot, inspected the object and confirmed it to be a genuine 32-bore revolver loaded with five bullets. The firearm was seized and the Rajarajeshwarinagar police initiated an inquiry.
Shortly after, a man identified as Ramanjinappa arrived at the BESCOM office claiming ownership of the weapon. He told officials that he had accidentally left the revolver in the toilet and was unable to retrieve it later. He also showed a digital copy of the firearm licence on his mobile phone.
Despite his claim, police registered a Non-Cognisable Report (NCR) based on the complaint filed by Manjula and did not return the weapon immediately. Following initial inquiry, officers sought legal opinion on the matter.
Based on legal advice, a case was later registered under Section 30 of the Arms Act on April 23. Police officials said the revolver can now be reclaimed only through court permission.
According to BESCOM sources, Ramanjinappa stated that he was unwell on the day of the incident, suffering from diarrhoea, but had visited the office to complete admission formalities for his daughter at a college located opposite the premises. He reportedly asked for the restroom, went to the first floor, placed the revolver on a wooden window frame, and forgot to take it while leaving.
A senior police officer said the investigation is ongoing and added that legal procedures will determine the next course of action, including verification of licence validity, circumstances of storage, and compliance with firearm safety norms. Authorities also stressed the seriousness of leaving a loaded weapon unattended in a public office space, calling it a potential security risk that required immediate intervention and strict procedural review.
