Rifles, ammunition and other equipment recovered from a retired hawaldar arrested on Friday. (Photo: By Arrangement)

Hyderabad: Thirty-seven-year-old former hawaldar Upputholla Mallesh alias Raju, who was arrested in connection with the Bolaram arms theft case involving rifles, ammunition and other equipment, was remanded to 14 days judicial custody.

The breakthrough came after questioning 115 personnel linked to the regiment and the KOTE. Mallesh served 16 years in the Madras Regiment before being removed from service on June 30 for indiscipline and poor health. Police narrowed the probe to personnel with access to the armoury.

Addressing a press conference, Director-General of Police C.V. Anand said the recovery of the stolen weapons was a relief, as they had not fallen into the wrong hands. He noted that angles such as drug mafia and espionage were examined and ruled out, while Mallesh’s social media activity remained under scrutiny.

The case was registered on a complaint by KOTE in-charge Vinod Kumar. Bollaram police, Cantonment SOT, Military Intelligence and Hyderabad Task Force worked jointly, with investigators establishing that the theft was an insider job.

“We started questioning personnel. Initially, we could not break the case, so we went for a deeper probe and shortlisted those with access,” Anand said. Ten persons linked to the KOTE in-charge were identified, followed by six aware of movements around the armoury. Teams questioned seven QRT personnel, seven outsourcing employees, 34 under disciplinary action and 54 on leave. The breakthrough came when seven recently pensioned-out personnel were examined.

Mallesh, questioned on Sept. 7, gave inconsistent answers. Police alerted Nagarkurnool police to keep watch. He was asked to appear on Sept. 8 and 9 but failed to turn up. Investigators then approached his wife and father-in-law, urging them to persuade him. He was apprehended at his Balaji Nagar residence, after which his movements before and after the theft were pieced together.

According to Anand, Mallesh conducted reconnaissance of the KOTE on June 28 and 29. On June 30 night, he broke the lock, entered the armoury and removed weapons one by one. A thud alerted the guard, but nothing suspicious was found. Mallesh opened a second room, collected more ammunition and remained inside for over an hour. He loaded the cache onto his Honda Activa, left it near a temple, then returned to collect magazine bags and covers.

On his return, the guard questioned him. Mallesh claimed he was from the Madras Regiment and was allowed to proceed. He retrieved the bags, returned to the temple, packed the weapons and reached home at 4.34 am. Later, he used his Brezza car to move the cache to Achampet.

At his under-construction house in Nagar Kurnool, he dug a pit in the courtyard and concealed the weapons. They were later shifted to another location for reasons yet to be established.

Anand said the recovery was a major relief, as there was no indication the firearms had reached unauthorised hands. The investigation continues into Mallesh’s motive, social media activity, contacts and the circumstances of concealment and shifting of the cache.


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