Rajinikanth and Dhanush receive bomb threats via emails; police , bomb squad conduct security checks

Dhanush and Rajinikanth

The Tamil Nadu police recently confirmed that bomb threat emails were sent to the residences of actors Rajinikanth and Dhanush in Chennai on Tuesday. The emails were reportedly sent to the state Director General of Police (DGP) on Monday, claiming that explosives had been planted at the respective homes of the actors.

Bomb threat at Rajinikanth and Dhanush's home

As per the Teynampet police, under whose jurisdiction the actors' homes fall, the first bomb-threat mail to Rajnikanth's house was received at about 8.30 am on October 27.

"When we reached out, we were told that they do not require the assistance of a bomb squad," said an official. A second threat mail was received at 6.30 pm on the same day, and Rajnikanth's team again declined a security inspection.

Actor Dhanush also received a bomb threat email on the same day. "He, too, refused our assistance," added the police official. The police and bomb squad also checked the houses of others named in the emails and found them to be a hoax.

Other celebrities who received bomb threats

Notably, this is not the first instance where such hoax bomb threats have been issued. Several prominent individuals have received similar threat emails in recent weeks. On October 2, similar emails were sent to the DGP stating that bombs had been placed at the offices and residences of multiple VIPs, including at actress Trisha Krishnan's home in Teyanampet as well as Sekher's in Mandaveli.

Later on October 9, the Tamil Nadu police arrested a 37-year-old man, identified as Shabik, for reportedly making a call to the police room and claiming that a bomb had been planted at actor and Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) chief Vijay's Neelankarai residence.

On October 14, music composer Ilaiyaraaja's studio in T Nagar was also targeted with a similar threat. The police found out that all these emails were false. Apart from film personalities, several politicians, including Chief Minister MK Stalin, have also been the targets of such hoax bomb threats.

"The Cyber Crime police are tracing those emails, but have yet to make an arrest," an official said.

(With inputs from PTI)