Arms theft at Madras Regiment: Thousands of call records analysed, suspects grilled

An extensive investigation was launched after weapons and ammunition went missing from the Madras Regiment Headquarters Company in Bolarum. Telangana police, Army intelligence and other agencies scrutinised thousands of call records, CCTV footage and questioned dozens of personnel, but no espionage link was found so far.

Hyderabad: Thousands of call data records were verified and several dozen suspects were questioned during the extensive probe into the theft of arms and ammunition from the Madras Regiment Headquarters Company in Bolarum.

The theft came to light after Army personnel found that several weapons and ammunition were missing from the arms and ammunition stores. A complaint was lodged with the Bolarum police, following which a multi-agency investigation was launched involving the Malkajgiri police, Special Operations Team (SOT), Hyderabad Task Force and Military Intelligence.

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Telangana DGP CV Anand said that he initially suspected an insider’s involvement as access to the secured arms and ammunition stores was restricted. Personnel who had direct access to the stores were shortlisted and questioned. 

The probe was subsequently widened to include members of the PRT team, outsourced workers such as electricians, plumbers and contractors, personnel who had faced disciplinary action, those who were on leave around the time of the theft and seven personnel who had been pensioned out.

“Also, we examined nearly 18,000 mobile numbers and carried out detailed technical analysis of call records, besides examining CCTV footage, mobile phones, social media activity, messages and fingerprints,” said CV Anand.

Arms store in-charge Vinod Kumar, his senior officer Subedar Sriram Prasad and ammunition point in-charge Valli Madhu were among those questioned in detail. Their phone calls, messages and social media activity were scrutinised, but investigators reportedly did not find any concrete clue linking them to the theft.

With the initial leads failing to yield results, investigators expanded the probe to other possible motives, including links with drug networks, an organised theft and possible espionage angles. “Finally, the case was solved, so far we have not found any espionage angle or foreign hand in the incident. The other agencies will continue the probe,” said CV Anand.