The police said Sellmeyer was detained by the Central Industrial Security Force personnel when they found an Austrian-made 'Calibre 40' weapon while scanning his baggage as he arrived to board a Mumbai-bound flight and handed him over to the airport authorities.
He had come to Chennai last week from New Delhi to undergo treatment at a private hospital. The American Consulate in Chennai has been informed about his arrest, officials said adding the Consulate had confirmed that Sellmeyer was a US citizen.
But a consulate official did not answer media queries. Sellmeyer told media persons that he was not aware of the Indian laws that carrying firearms in the flight was an offence.
"I realise it now," he said when media persons asked whether he was aware of the rules.
The police said that they recovered 35 bullets and three magazines. A spokesperson of Delhi International Airport Limited when queried about a possible security breach said "We have referred the matter to the concerned security agencies who are ascertaining the facts and will reveal once all the details have been obtained."
