Surat : Khel Mahakumbh gold medalist Arrested with Pistol

Surat | Gujarat — In a shocking twist that has stunned Surat’s sports fraternity, national-level shooting-volleyball player and Khel Mahakumbh gold medalist Vikas Ashok Bhargava was arrested on Tuesday for possession of a country-made pistol. The 30-year-old athlete, once celebrated for his achievements on the volleyball court, was caught by Chowk Bazaar police in a dramatic late-night operation.

The arrest has sent ripples across the city, raising questions about how a player who once brought glory to Gujarat now finds himself embroiled in serious criminal charges.

Police sources confirmed that Bhargava, a resident of Akshat Apartment on Wade Road, was intercepted near the Phulwadi-Bharimata road after a tip-off that an armed man would be passing through. Upon searching him, officers recovered a homemade pistol.

During interrogation, Bhargava claimed the weapon belonged to his close friend Ritwik alias Sonio Prakash Jogi, a Wade Road resident, and that he was only keeping it for “safekeeping.” Police, however, are not taking his explanation at face value, given his criminal track record.

Bhargava’s fall from grace is as dramatic as it is tragic. Having represented Gujarat five times at the national level in shooting-volleyball, he won five gold medals and one silver medal at prestigious competitions, including the celebrated Khel Mahakumbh. Just five days before his arrest, he had returned from Jalandhar after participating in a cricket event.

“Sportsmen are supposed to inspire the youth with discipline and dedication. When a medal-winning player is caught with a weapon, it not only damages his reputation but also shakes public faith in the sporting community,” said a senior Surat police official, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Bhargava’s criminal history only deepens the controversy. Records show he was arrested in 2022 in connection with attempted murder and violations of the Arms Act. While he primarily runs a small grain grinding mill, his proximity to local criminal elements has kept him on the police’s radar.

Local residents expressed disappointment, recalling his earlier sporting achievements with pride. “We always thought of him as a role model for young athletes. Seeing his name in criminal cases is heartbreaking,” said a neighbor.

The police are now investigating whether Bhargava’s links with Ritwik alias Sonio are part of a larger criminal nexus involving illegal arms in Surat. Further arrests are expected in the coming days.