Oshiwara police detained the man in Lokhandwala yesterday and are questioning him; if he fails to produce a licence for the gadget, he could be booked under the Official Secrets Act
Carrying a walkie-talkie has landed a city man in serious trouble. The Oshiwara police have detained a person for using the gadget and are questioning him to check if he has the necessary documentation for using the system.
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According to the police, nobody is allowed to use the handheld transceiver without an appropriate licence, since the user can intercept messages relayed from and to the police control room. File pic for representation
If the detainee fails to produce the requisite papers, he stands to be booked for posing a threat to national security. The detained man, Neeraj, was seen roaming around with a walkie-talkie in the Lokhandwala area of Andheri late in the morning yesterday. They detained him on a tip-off and began questioning him.
The devices are generally used by production personnel while working on film shoots. Neeraj claimed he worked on the sets of a TV serial, but failed to produce any documents to substantiate his claims. The central government issues licences and permissions for usage of walkie-talkies.
According to the police, nobody is allowed to use the handheld transceiver without an appropriate licence, since the user can intercept messages relayed from and to the police control room. Police
said the technology can be used by terrorists and its unlicensed use poses a threat to national security.
Cops are currently checking whether Neeraj has the appropriate documentation for using the system. They have sent the device to the forensic lab to check what it was used for. Should its unlawful use be confirmed, Neeraj could find himself facing stringent action.
According to an officer from Oshiwara police station, he can be booked under severe sections. “The detainee can be booked under the Official Secrets Act, as it is a matter of national security. Till now, we have not found the licence, nor any legal documentation for possessing the walkie-talkie,” the officer said. “We are not sure whether he was using the gadget for any production work,” added the officer.