Agniveer from Telangana, his brother: men behind theft of rifle and ammunition from Mumbai’s Navy Nagar

A police officer said the accused confessed to the crime. A police team is bringing the rifle and live cartridges via road, said the officer.

The officer said Rakesh completed his higher secondary education in his native place and joined the armed forces in 2023 as an Agniveer, a member of the armed forces recruited under the Agnipath Scheme, a government initiative for a four-year short-term service period.

Rakesh was assigned to the Navy Nagar area in Mumbai from August 2024 to February 2025 and primarily performed sentry duty, said the police.

“He was familiar with the area and departmental operations,” the officer said.

His elder brother Umesh, who is married and has one child, had completed secondary school education and was running a hootch shop along with his father in his village, said the police.

Currently posted in Kochi Naval base, Rakesh came to Mumbai from Kochi on September 5, while his brother arrived in the city on September 6 morning, said the police. Both met and conducted a recce, and Rakesh explained to his brother about the area and plan, the police added.

“Rakesh arrived near the Navy Nagar main gate after 4 pm (Saturday) and went inside at 7.20 pm, after presenting his identity card. He was carrying a backpack that contained his Navy uniform, which he put on before approaching the junior sailor on sentry duty. Rakesh informed the sailor that he was his senior and was there to take over for the next shift at around 7.30 pm,” said a police officer.

“Rakesh then collected the rifle, which contained a blank magazine, and two magazines which were loaded with 40 live cartridges from the sailor posted on sentry duty. He then threw the weapon and ammunition outside the compound wall,” added the officer.

The police said his brother was waiting outside to collect them. He allegedly left from the main gate at 8 pm, and both met outside the gate, boarded a taxi, and went to the Kurla Terminus railway station.

“From Kurla, the accused went to Pune via train, and from there they went to their native place,” said the officer.

During the investigation, the Mumbai police crime branch got leads about the accused, and a police team followed the trail of the accused and finally reached their native place to arrest them.

The police are questioning the accused to determine if the junior sailor, from whom Rakesh collected the weapon, was involved. He is also under suspicion, according to a police officer.

During the initial investigation, the police have not found any criminal records against Umesh, but said the brothers’ village is located in a Naxal-affected area of Telangana. Officers are questioning the accused to determine the exact motive behind the incident, said a police spokesperson.
“From Kurla, the accused went to Pune via train, and from there they went to their native place,” said the officer.

During the investigation, the Mumbai Crime Branch got leads about the accused, and a police team followed the trail of the accused and finally reached their native place to arrest them.

The police are questioning the accused to determine if the junior sailor, from whom Rakesh collected the weapon, was involved. He is also under suspicion, according to a police officer.

During the initial investigation, the police have not found any criminal records against Umesh, but said the brothers’ village is located in a Naxal-affected area of Telangana. Officers are questioning the accused to determine the exact motive behind the incident, said a police spokesperson.