Malkajgiri Police Seek Custody of Ex-Havaldar in Bolarum Arms Theft Case

Malkajgiri police are set to approach the court on Tuesday (September 15) with a petition seeking seven days' custody of Upputholla Mallesh, a 37-year-old former Army Havaldar arrested in connection with the theft of firearms and ammunition from the 20 Battalion, Madras Regiment, in Bolarum.

The petition is being filed on Tuesday because the court is closed on Saturday and Monday. Investigators want to question Mallesh at length to pin down why he allegedly stole the weapons and to determine whether others had a hand in the crime.

Mallesh, who retired from the Army on June 30 after 16 years of service, was taken into custody on Friday (September 11). His arrest followed the recovery of all the stolen firearms and ammunition from different locations.

According to investigators, Mallesh entered the regiment through the Kargil Gate at around 11 p.m. on August 30, broke open the Kote and removed the firearms. He is believed to have spent about an hour breaking open the ammunition chamber and took ammunition that matched the stolen weapons.

His exact motive has not yet been established. Police have indicated that he was disgruntled over his retirement from service, but investigators are still questioning him to establish whether that was the only reason and whether anyone else was involved in the theft.