Mumbai: In a high‑security breach, the Mumbai Crime Branch arrested Rakesh Ramesh Dubbula (22), an Agniveer in the Navy, and his brother Umesh Ramesh Dubbula (25), for stealing an INSAS rifle and ammunition from Navy Nagar in Colaba. The duo were apprehended from their native village in Kumuram Bheem Asifabad district, Telangana.
On September 6, Rakesh, wearing a naval uniform and carrying out sentry duties earlier, impersonated a senior naval officer to trick a junior sailor on duty into handing over the rifle. He then handed the weapon and two magazines (loaded with live cartridges) to his brother Umesh, who waited outside the compound.
The police recovered the rifle, two magazines each containing 20 live rounds, a blank magazine, from the brothers. They also traced their escape route using CCTV footage and apprehended them after they fled to Telangana.
Authorities are investigating whether the pair had plans to use the weapon for extortion or were aiming to sell it, possibly with links to Naxal groups. The theft has raised serious concerns about protocol in naval security.
