Archive · 13 Sep 2026
Ex-soldier sent to police custody in Secunderabad armoury heist
A former soldier named Upputholla Mallesh is being questioned by police in Telangana.
Police say he stole guns, ammunition and other military equipment from an Army armoury.
The alleged theft happened during the night of August 30 and 31.
A court has allowed police to keep him for seven days of questioning.
Investigators want to know whether anyone helped him.
They also want to learn whether he gave any weapons to other people.
Police say all the stolen items have been found.
They believe he may have been upset about leaving the Army early.
A Secunderabad court granted Telangana Police seven days of custody of former Army NCO Upputholla Mallesh.
Police allege Mallesh stole firearms and ammunition from the 20 Battalion, Madras Regiment armoury on August 30-31.
Investigators will question him about possible accomplices and whether weapons were given to others to hide.
Police say the entire stolen cache was recovered, including rifles, pistols, night-vision equipment and ammunition.
The preliminary motive identified by police is disgruntlement over Mallesh’s early retirement from military service.
- Who
- Former Army NCO Upputholla Mallesh, 37, and Telangana Police investigators.
- What
- Mallesh was remanded to seven days of police custody in connection with the alleged theft of firearms and ammunition from an Army armoury.
- When
- The alleged theft occurred on the intervening night of August 30 and 31; Mallesh was arrested on September 11, and police custody begins on Monday.
- Where
- The theft allegedly occurred at the 20 Battalion, Madras Regiment armoury in Bolarum, Secunderabad; the cache was later hidden near Mallesh’s house in Nagarkurnool district.
- Why
- Police say the preliminary motive appears to be disgruntlement over Mallesh’s early retirement from service; questioning will also examine whether others were involved.
- Accused
- Upputholla Mallesh, 37, a former Army non-commissioned officer
- Police custody
- Seven days, beginning Monday
- Alleged crime location
- 20 Battalion, Madras Regiment armoury, Bolarum
- Arrest date
- September 11
- Recovered weapons
- Four AK-203 rifles, one INSAS rifle, six 9 mm pistols and one civil 6.35-bore pistol
- Other recovered items
- Magazines, a passive night-vision binocular and 1,156 rounds of 9 mm ammunition
- Investigation partners
- Telangana Police, the National Investigation Agency and Army authorities