Bolarum arms theft probe examines alleged military network and robbery plans

Police investigating the theft of firearms from the 20 Madras Regiment premises in Bolarum, Secunderabad Cantonment, are examining an alleged network involving a retired Army havaldar, serving personnel, prospective robbers and arms contacts. Investigators say former Havaldar Upputholla Mallesh shared bank-robbery videos with his cousin and an associate in the weeks before the August 30 theft. The material was allegedly used to study how robberies were carried out.

The details emerged during Mallesh’s police custody between September 22 and October 1, according to Malkajgiri Police Commissioner B. Sumathi. Police allege that financial difficulties after Mallesh’s retirement, resentment towards former superiors and a desire for quick money led him to consider armed robberies.

They said he had previously been involved in two theft cases before joining the Army in 2010 and was known as a property offender under the alias Raju. Investigators said Mallesh first tried to obtain two pistols through contacts in West Bengal, but later decided to steal weapons from his former unit. They allege that he surveyed the Bolarum premises at least six times and knew that its CCTV cameras were being repaired.

Police also allege that serving personnel provided information about the arms store, guard positions and sentry duties. Cell-tower data reportedly showed meetings between Mallesh and Naik Vinod Kumar, while another soldier, Havaldar Kucharakanti Praveen, is being examined as a possible purchaser of the weapons. Investigators are also looking into alleged links with arms dealers Birbal Shaw and Avi Dey, as well as social-media accounts suspected by police of having Pakistani links.

The Hindu reported that police had not established a connection between the online activity and the theft. The allegations remain subject to investigation.