Calling the Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS)’s case of an alleged forged arms licence racket a “white collar and socioeconomic offence” affecting “the largest societal interest and public welfare”, the Gujarat High Court on Tuesday rejected the anticipatory bail plea of an Uttar Pradesh government weapon clerk accused of helping manipulate official arms licence data and facilitating the issuance of bogus licences used to procure weapons and live cartridges by 12 persons arrested from Ahmedabad.

Justice H D Suthar of the Gujarat High Court was hearing an anticipatory bail plea filed by U K Jaypalsinh, who identified himself as a weapon clerk at a government office in Etah, Uttar Pradesh.…