SECUNDERABAD: It was a high-stakes investigation that kept security agencies on edge for ten days. From combing through mountains of CCTV footage across thousands of acres of cantonment land to analyzing thousands of call detail records (CDRs), Hyderabad law enforcement pulled off a masterclass in modern detective work to crack the audacious theft of high-grade arms and ammunition from the 20th Battalion of the Madras Regiment in Bollarum.
The heist, which sent shockwaves through security circles, involved the disappearance of 12 lethal weapons—including four AK-47 rifles—along with a massive cache of live bullets. Following the filing of the case on August 31, a meticulous multi-agency operation swung into action under the supervision of City Police Commissioner VC Sajjanar, alongside Task Force DCP Gaikwad Vaibhav Raghunath and Additional DCP Ande Srinivasa Rao.
Camping at Ground Zero
To maintain absolute operational precision, investigators set up a temporary on-site camp directly within the Madras Regiment facility, with Army officers and top-tier police personnel bunking together to oversee the probe. The sprawling cantonment, covering thousands of acres of mixed residential and commercial zones, presented a logistical nightmare.
However, investigators worked relentlessly, interrogating suspects for 10 to 12 grueling hours daily and leaning heavily on technical evidence. Hundreds of individuals were questioned as teams meticulously narrowed down their suspects.
Hunting the Insider
Knowing that the crime required precise familiarity with military layouts and procedures, detectives compiled a comprehensive database of recently dismissed personnel, retired soldiers, and officers. Cross-referencing their whereabouts and digital footprints during the timeframe of the crime on August 30 revealed that ten individuals of interest were present in Hyderabad.
Cell tower pings and extensive surveillance footage soon zeroed in on Upputholla Mallesh, alias Raju—a former Havildar who had been dishonorably discharged from service due to disciplinary violations and health problems. Harbouring a deep-seated grudge against the military, Mallesh had leveraged his prior training, using tactical military code language to execute the break-in.
A Hollywood Obsession and the Recovery
Task Force teams tracked Mallesh down to his native village of Jangamreddypalli in Amrabad Mandal. Spotting him moving suspiciously in a car, they closed in on the mastermind. With the critical cooperation of Mallesh’s wife, law enforcement successfully recovered the entire stolen arsenal.
During interrogation, the disgraced former soldier reportedly confessed that he was a massive Hollywood movie buff and had plotted the heist simply to acquire an arsenal similar to those featured in blockbuster action films.
State DGP CV Anand and City CP VC Sajjanar later commended the Hyderabad Task Force officers and staff for their meticulous precision, bringing a swift and secure end to a potentially catastrophic security breach.
