Ex-soldier remanded in Secunderabad armoury heist case

A court in Secunderabad, Telangana, has granted police seven days of custody for Upputholla Mallesh, a former army Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO), in connection with an armoury heist. Mallesh is accused of stealing firearms and ammunition from the 20 Battalion, Madras Regiment, in Bolarum during the night of August 30-31.

Telangana Director General of Police C. V. Anand stated that preliminary investigations suggest Mallesh acted alone, though police are still investigating the potential involvement of others. The motive is believed to be disgruntlement regarding his early retirement from service. While the stolen cache of arms and ammunition has been recovered, investigators plan to determine if the weapons were handed over to accomplices for hiding.

Findings from the interrogation will be shared with the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and Indian Army authorities. Mallesh, 37, joined the army in 2010 and served for 16 years.