Archive · 12 Sep 2026
Retired Havaldar Arrested After Telangana Army Armoury Theft
Police arrested a former Army soldier after weapons were stolen from an armoury in Telangana.
The armoury belonged to the 20 Battalion, Madras Regiment, in Bolarum.
Police said the theft happened during the night of August 30 and 31.
The stolen items included rifles, pistols, night-vision equipment and ammunition.
Investigators believe Mallesh knew the facility because he had served there.
They said he looked at the armoury before the theft and used a motorcycle and car to move the weapons.
Police checked about 8.5 lakh mobile numbers and questioned many people connected with the facility.
All the weapons were found, but investigators are still examining the motive and possible involvement of others.
Police arrested 37-year-old former Havaldar Upputholla Mallesh over the August 30-31 theft from the 20 Battalion, Madras Regiment armoury in Bolarum.
The stolen cache included four AK-203 rifles, one INSAS rifle, seven pistols, night-vision equipment, magazines and ammunition.
Investigators analysed about 8.5 lakh mobile numbers and questioned military personnel, contractors, outsourced workers and recently retired or absent staff.
Police allege Mallesh surveyed the armoury beforehand, broke its locks and moved the weapons through a motorcycle and car to Nagarkurnool district.
All the stolen arms and ammunition were recovered, while police continued investigating the motive and whether anyone else was involved.
- Who
- Police arrested Upputholla Mallesh, a 37-year-old former Havaldar of the 20 Battalion, Madras Regiment.
- What
- He allegedly broke into the regiment’s armoury and stole weapons and ammunition, which police later recovered intact.
- When
- The theft allegedly occurred during the intervening night of August 30 and 31; the arrest was announced on Friday in September.
- Where
- The theft occurred at the Kote and Magazine facilities of the 20 Battalion, Madras Regiment, in Bolarum, Secunderabad Cantonment; the weapons were recovered in Nagarkurnool district.
- Why
- Police said the preliminary motive appeared to be disgruntlement over Mallesh’s premature retirement, while the exact motive remains under investigation.
Police Assessment
Outstanding Questions
Motive
Police Assessment
Police said the preliminary motive appeared to be disgruntlement over Mallesh’s early or premature retirement, which reports linked to indiscipline and poor health.
Outstanding Questions
The DGP said the exact motive had not been established and that investigators were continuing to examine other possibilities.
Possible accomplices
Police Assessment
Police said Mallesh appeared to have acted alone and recovered the entire cache from locations linked to him.
Outstanding Questions
Investigators were still checking whether anyone else was involved, and the Army was expected to conduct further inquiry.
Security breach
Police Assessment
Police described the incident as appearing to involve an insider because access to the armoury was restricted and Mallesh allegedly conducted a prior recce.
Outstanding Questions
Authorities investigated armoury staff, quick reaction team members, outsourced workers, contractors, personnel on leave or punishment and recently retired personnel, so responsibility beyond Mallesh had not initially been ruled out.
- Accused
- Upputholla Mallesh, also identified in one report as Malesh alias Raju
- Age
- 37
- Military service
- He joined the Indian Army in 2010 and served with the 20 Battalion, Madras Regiment before retiring on June 30.
- Weapons recovered
- Four AK-203 rifles, one INSAS rifle, six 9 mm pistols and one 6.35-bore pistol
- Additional equipment
- Five AK-203 magazines, three INSAS magazines, pistol magazines and one passive night-vision binocular
- Investigation scale
- Police analysed about 8.5 lakh mobile numbers and examined people with access to the facility.
- Investigation status
- All stolen arms and ammunition were recovered, and Mallesh was remanded to judicial custody. Reports differ on which weapon types corresponded to some of the recovered ammunition.
