Secunderabad armoury heist: Ex-soldier Mallesh gets 7-day police custody
Synopsis
A former army NCO dismissed for indiscipline allegedly spent three nights casing a military armoury before stealing AK-203 rifles, pistols, and over 1,800 rounds of ammunition — then ferrying them home on a bike and car. With the NIA now looped in and a 7-day custodial grilling beginning Monday, investigators are racing to confirm whether this was a lone act of grievance or the first thread in a wider network.
Key Takeaways
Upputhulla Mallesh , 37 , a former army NCO, has been sent to 7-day police custody by a Secunderabad court.
He allegedly stole weapons from the armoury of 20 Battalion, Madras Regiment , Bolarum , on the night of 30–31 August 2026 .
Stolen cache included 4 AK-203 rifles , 6 pistols , 1 INSAS rifle , a night-vision binocular , and over 1,800 rounds of ammunition — all since recovered.
Anand said Mallesh prima facie acted alone; police are still probing possible accomplices.
Mallesh was retired from the Indian Army on 30 June 2026 on grounds of indiscipline and poor health; disgruntlement is the preliminary motive.
NIA and Army authorities will be briefed on findings from the custodial interrogation.
A court in Secunderabad, Telangana, has remanded former army non-commissioned officer Upputholla Mallesh, 37, to seven days of police custody in connection with the brazen theft of firearms and ammunition from the armoury of 20 Battalion, Madras Regiment at Bolarum. Mallesh is set to be taken into custody on Monday for intensive interrogation, according to sources.
Key Developments in the Case
Mallesh was arrested on 11 September 2026 and was initially sent to 14-day judicial custody, lodged at Chanchalguda Central Prison. Investigators now plan to question him further based on leads from his preliminary interrogation. Telangana Police have confirmed they will share details gathered during questioning with the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the Army for a broader investigation.
What the DGP Said
Telangana Director General of Police C. V. Anand, speaking at a press conference on Friday, said that prima facie, Mallesh appeared to have acted alone. However, he clarified that investigators were continuing to probe the possible involvement of others. During custody, police are expected to determine whether Mallesh received any assistance and whether he handed stolen weapons to accomplices for concealment.
The DGP also confirmed that the entire cache of stolen arms and ammunition from the Kote & Magazine of 20 Battalion, Madras Regiment had been recovered.
Timeline of the Theft
According to investigators, Mallesh conducted reconnaissance of the armoury on 27, 28, and 29 August 2026. On the intervening night of 30 and 31 August, he allegedly broke the lock on the arms and ammunition store, loaded the stolen weapons onto his bike, and later transferred them in his car to Nagarkurnool district, where he concealed them near his residence. His movements since 27 August were described as suspicious and inconsistent with his own statements.
The joint operation that led to his arrest was carried out by Bollarum police, the Hyderabad Task Force, and the SOT Malkajgiri Commissionerate.
What Was Stolen
The recovered cache was extensive. It included four AK-203 assault rifles with five magazines, one INSAS rifle with three magazines, six 9 mm pistols with 12 magazines, one civil 6.35-bore pistol with a magazine, and one passive night-vision binocular. Ammunition recovered comprised 1,156 rounds of 9 mm pistol ammunition, 720 rounds of AK-203 ammunition, and 36 rounds of 5.56 mm INSAS ammunition across ball, tracer, and blank varieties.
Background: Who Is Mallesh
A native of Jangareddypalle village in Nagarkurnool district, Mallesh joined the Indian Army in 2010 and served for 16 years before being retired on 30 June 2026 on grounds of indiscipline and poor health. At the time of the offence, he was residing with his family at Balajinagar in Secunderabad Cantonment. The DGP indicated that the motivation behind the theft was preliminarily assessed as disgruntlement stemming from his early discharge from service.
The NIA's involvement signals that authorities are treating the case with national-security sensitivity, even as the immediate picture points to a lone actor driven by personal grievance. Further questioning is expected to determine whether the weapons were destined for any third party.
Point of View
Spanning assault rifles to night-vision equipment, warrants far more scrutiny than a personal-grievance story allows.
NationPress
13 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was stolen in the Secunderabad armoury theft?
Four AK-203 assault rifles with five magazines, one INSAS rifle with three magazines, six 9 mm pistols with 12 magazines, one civil 6.35-bore pistol, one passive night-vision binocular, and over 1,800 rounds of various ammunition were stolen from the armoury of 20 Battalion, Madras Regiment at Bolarum. All stolen arms and ammunition have since been recovered by police.
Who is Upputholla Mallesh and why is he accused?
Upputholla Mallesh, 37, is a former army non-commissioned officer from Nagarkurnool district who served in the Indian Army from 2010 until his retirement on 30 June 2026 on grounds of indiscipline and poor health. He is accused of breaking into the armoury on the night of 30–31 August 2026 after conducting a three-night reconnaissance, and transporting the weapons to his home district.
Why is the NIA involved in the case?
The National Investigation Agency has been looped in because the theft involved military-grade weapons and ammunition, raising national security concerns. Telangana Police said they would share interrogation findings with the NIA and Army authorities for further investigation into whether anyone else was involved or whether weapons were passed on.
What is the suspected motive behind the armoury theft?
Telangana DGP C. V. Anand said that the preliminary assessment points to disgruntlement over Mallesh's early retirement from service as the likely motive. However, investigators are continuing to probe whether he acted alone or had accomplices, and whether the stolen weapons were intended for any third party.
What happens next in the Mallesh case?
Mallesh is set to be taken into police custody on Monday for seven days of intensive interrogation. Investigators will question him about possible accomplices and whether he handed weapons to others for concealment. Findings will be shared with the NIA and the Army for a parallel investigation.
