Bomb threat to four Maharashtra courts triggers security scare, search operations underway

Thane court evacuated after email warns of bomb explosion (Pic/Special arrangement)

The court building in Maharashtra's Thane was evacuated on Monday afternoon following an email message about a bomb on the premises, a police official said.

Police said nothing suspicious was found on the premises of courts in Thane, Hingoli and Beed, while a search is underway at the district and sessions court in Shivajinagar, Pune.

As per the latest reports, The district and sessions courts in Maharashtra's Pune, Hingoli and Beed also received emails threatening bomb blasts on the premises on Monday. The threat triggered a security scare and a police search.

The official, while briefing about the incident in Thane, highlighted the message received at the court office, saying the bomb would explode at 3:30 pm, as per PTI.

The official asserted, "Personnel from the Thane Nagar police station evacuated the entire court complex. Judges, advocates, and other staffers were safely led out of the premises. A dog squad and BDDS personnel then carried out a thorough search."

He also added, "The search is underway, though nothing suspicious has been found so far."

Bomb threat in Hingoli

In Hingoli in the Marathwada region, an email threatening to blow up the court building came to light after the court opened in the morning, as per PTI.

The court authorities immediately informed the police, following which a police team, accompanied by the BDDS, rushed to the spot and launched a thorough search.

Nothing suspicious found; search underway

Officials while breifing about the incident said that the search is underway, though nothing suspicious has been found so far, he added. In Pune, the Shivajinagar court premises were evacuated after the court administration received a bomb threat, a Pune Police officer said.

A police official said the email might have been a hoax, adding that the Hingoli cybercrime unit has launched a probe to trace the email's source.

A similar email was received in Beed, also in Marathwada, at 11:52 am, warning of a bomb blast at 3:11 pm, following which the court complex was evacuated, local officials said.

"A contingent of police, BDDS and LCB personnel, along with a dog squad, reached the court complex. Teams are carrying out a sanitisation and search operation," Additional Superintendent of Police Shaikh Sameer said.

Cyber teams are verifying the origin of the IP address to determine if it is a hoax or part of an unannounced drill, he added.

(With inputs from PTI)