The pilot, Rafel Jose Hubbard, was later let off by a Delhi court after his lawyer submitted that the “second hand” bag, which carried live 7.62 bore cartridges, was purchased by him from Netaji Nagar without checking it.

Hubbard claimed that “the original owner” might have left the cartridges in the bag that he used without proper checking. The pilot of Aero Air charter company was set free on bail after he paid Rs 20,000 as surety.

Hubbard was apprehended after Central Industrial Security Force officials detected catridges in his bag during security checking at the IGI domestic airport, an official said.