PATNA, Oct. 10 -- The National Investigation Agency (NIA), which is probing an arms smuggling case, carried out extensive searches at the residence of an accused, identified as Sandeep Kumar Sinha, a lawyer by profession, and recovered a 9mm pistol, two magazines, 18 live cartridges, a licensed DBBL weapon with 35 live cartridges, and Rs.4 lakh in cash, besides a list of incriminating materials, officials disclosed on Thursday. The investigation began in May 2024, when the Muzaffarpur Railway Police arrested two cousins - Satyam and Vikash - with an AK-47 rifle equipped with a lens, magazine, and five live cartridges. Initial investigation revealed that Sandeep Sinha played a crucial role in facilitating property transactions linked to the arms trade. Vikash Kumar (Muzaffarpur) had allegedly bought the rifle from Mohammad Ahmad Ansari, an arms dealer based in Gopalganj, who was apprehended from Dimapur, Nagaland, on May 10, 2024. An NIA official familiar with the matter said that Sandeep Kumar Sinha alias Chhotu Lala is a key accused in the arms smuggling case and was charged with facilitating the trafficking of an AK-47 rifle into Bihar from Nagaland. He is a close associate of the arrested prime accused Vikash Kumar and an active member of the arms trafficking network involved in the case. The duo allegedly smuggled the weapon into Bihar from Nagaland, intending to use the proceeds from the sale to invest in land deals. The case was initially registered by the Bihar Police following the recovery of the AK-47 rifle and live ammunition. In August 2024, the case was taken over by the NIA for further investigation. During the probe, four accused were identified - Vikash Kumar, Satyam Kumar, Devmani Rai alias Anish, and Mohammad Ahmad Ansari. They were arrested and subsequently charge-sheeted. Recently, another accused, Manzoor Khan, was also arrested and is currently lodged in Beur Jail. Sandeep's house had previously been raided on December 18, 2024, but he was found absconding.....