{
  "id": 6882659,
  "title": "Ex-Army man held in Hyderabad arms theft",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/12/ex-army-man-held-in-hyderabad-arms-theft",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-12T07:07:12.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Economic Times",
    "slug": "the-economic-times",
    "url": "https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/ex-army-man-steals-12-firearms-1900-rounds-in-hyderabad-wife-forces-surrender-how-theft-unfolded/articleshow/134113245.cms"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Retired Indian Army Havildar Upputholla Mallesh, 37, has been apprehended in Hyderabad for allegedly stealing weapons and ammunition from his former unit's Kote and Magazine rooms. According to investigators, Mallesh, who served for 16 years before retiring in June 2026, meticulously planned the heist and transported the stolen items across Telangana. The stolen goods included four AK-203 rifles, one INSAS rifle, seven pistols, magazines, a night-vision binocular, and around 1,900 rounds of ammunition. Mallesh reportedly became disgruntled after leaving the Army, though his exact motive remains under investigation. Initial surveillance revealed Mallesh reconnoitering the armoury on August 28 and 29, which provided him with crucial knowledge about the unit's layout and operations. He is believed to have stolen the weapons and other equipment on the night of August 30-31, returning to collect magazine covers. CCTV footage showed Mallesh driving to his home, placing the magazine bag in his car, and leaving shortly after 4:34 am. The stolen items were later hidden near a temple, and Mallesh reportedly used his car to transport passengers, concealing his theft during this time. His wife and father-in-law later assisted investigators in recovering the stolen weapons.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}