Hyderabad: Telangana Police have cracked the sensational theft of weapons and ammunition from an Indian Army facility in Bolarum, Hyderabad, with the arrest of a former Army Havildar. The breakthrough has also led to the recovery of the entire cache of stolen arms and ammunition.
The theft took place on the intervening night of August 30 and 31, 2026, at the headquarters of the 20 Madras Regiment in Bolarum, triggering an extensive investigation involving the police, intelligence agencies and the Army.
The accused has been identified as Mallesh alias Raju, a former Havildar who had been discharged from service on June 30, 2026, reportedly over indiscipline and health-related issues.
Weapons and Ammunition Stolen
The stolen military stores included four AK-203 assault rifles, one INSAS rifle, seven pistols, five AK magazines, three INSAS magazines and 13 pistol magazines.
A night-vision binocular and a substantial quantity of ammunition were also reported missing from the facility.
Given the sensitive nature of the theft and the quantity of military-grade weapons involved, multiple agencies were brought into the investigation.
Massive Joint Investigation Launched
Joint teams comprising the Malkajgiri Special Operations Team (SOT), Military Intelligence, Telangana Intelligence and Hyderabad City Police Task Force worked on the case.
Investigators initially focused on around 16 key suspects who had direct access to sensitive areas. The scope of the investigation was subsequently expanded to include Quick Reaction Team personnel, outsourced workers, personnel who had faced disciplinary action and individuals who had recently retired or been discharged from service.
According to details disclosed during the investigation, authorities examined an enormous volume of technical evidence, including data linked to more than 8.5 lakh mobile numbers. CCTV footage, fingerprints and other forensic evidence were also scrutinised as investigators attempted to reconstruct the movement of the suspect.
Former Havildar Emerges as Prime Suspect
The investigation eventually zeroed in on Mallesh alias Raju.
Investigators found that the former Havildar was allegedly familiar with the Army facility and its security arrangements. He is accused of conducting reconnaissance on August 28 and 29 before carrying out the theft.
During the reconnaissance, he allegedly identified dark spots as well as locations that were not adequately covered by CCTV surveillance.
Investigators believe this knowledge allowed him to plan his movement through the facility while reducing the chances of being captured on surveillance cameras.
Weapons Allegedly Taken Away on Motorcycle
At around 11 pm on August 30, Mallesh allegedly entered the area and stole the weapons, magazines, ammunition and other equipment.
The stolen items were initially transported on his motorcycle before being transferred to his Maruti Suzuki Brezza car, according to the investigation.
Police said the accused then travelled towards Achampet. In an apparent attempt to make his journey appear routine and conceal his movements, he allegedly picked up paying passengers along the way.
The unusual strategy was reportedly intended to create a cover for his travel and make his movement less suspicious if investigators later attempted to trace his route.
Weapons Hidden Near His House
After reaching his destination, Mallesh allegedly concealed the stolen weapons near his house, hiding them beneath grass and soil.
During the days that followed, he reportedly shifted the cache on multiple occasions as the investigation intensified, before eventually returning the weapons to the original hiding location.
Investigators continued tracking leads through technical surveillance, forensic evidence and questioning of individuals connected with the Army facility.
Confession Leads to Recovery of Entire Cache
The case reached a breakthrough on September 10 when Mallesh was confronted during the investigation in the presence of his family and police personnel.
He subsequently confessed to stealing the weapons, according to investigators, and provided information about where the cache had been concealed.
Acting on the information, police recovered all the stolen arms, ammunition, magazines and other military equipment.
The recovery is a significant development given concerns that the stolen military-grade firearms could have fallen into criminal hands.
The successful investigation also brought together Telangana Police units, state intelligence agencies and Military Intelligence in an extensive operation involving CCTV analysis, mobile-data examination, forensic evidence and ground-level investigation.
Further investigation is expected to establish whether the accused acted entirely on his own, determine his precise motive for stealing the weapons and reconstruct every stage of the planning and execution of the theft.
