Seven arrests were announced by Telangana police on Saturday in connection with the theft of military weapons from the Indian Army’s 20 Madras Regiment in Secunderabad. The arrests include three serving Army personnel and four civilians, bringing the total number of suspects to seven. The prime accused, former Havildar Upputholla Mallesh, was detained in September and is the central figure in the case.
The three serving soldiers—Vinod Kumar, Konduri Sheshulu and Kucharakanti Praveen—are posted at Secunderabad Cantonment. The other suspects are Mallesh’s cousin Upputholla Mallikarjun, his friend Nirajan, and two men from West Bengal, Avi Dey alias Obi and Birbal Shaw. Police say the West Bengal men agreed to purchase the stolen weapons from Mallesh. According to Malkajgiri Police Commissioner Badugula Sumathi, the group originally planned to use the stolen arms for robberies at banks, jewellery shops and the homes of wealthy individuals, and also intended to sell the weapons to private buyers in West Bengal.
Mallesh, a resident of Mahboob Nagar, joined the Army in 2010 and served 16 years before being compulsorily retired as a Havildar in early 2024 over disciplinary and health issues. He reportedly held a grudge against his superiors after his retirement, according to Telangana Director General of Police C.V. Anand.
During a 10‑day custody period from 22 September to 1 October, Mallesh revealed the involvement of his cousin and friend, who were in financial distress. Police recovered the missing inventory—four AK‑203 assault rifles, six 9‑mm pistols, an INSAS rifle and ammunition—after Mallesh’s arrest. The weapons were found at the same location where a previously purchased country‑made weapon and live rounds had been recovered.
Mallesh allegedly broke the locks of the Kote and Magazine with the help of the three serving soldiers, then approached Dey and Shaw to sell the Army weapons. The buyers had agreed to pay Rs 3 lakh for pistols and Rs 5 lakh for long weapons, with additional payment for ammunition. The police ruled out any link to terrorist or extremist activity.
