Police activate SOPs after email warnings, link the latest threats to serial hoax sender
Authorities on alert at the Magistrate Court in Bandra after bomb threat mails. Pic/Shadab Khan
Bomb threat emails sent to multiple courts and banks in Mumbai triggered heightened security on Thursday, prompting an extensive security sweep across judicial premises in the city. The threats targeted at least five courts, including the Bombay High Court, as well as two to three banks, police sources said. After detailed searches, no suspicious or explosive material was found at any location.
Officials said the emails were sent using Outlook-based email IDs, following which standard operating procedures were immediately activated. Bomb Detection and Disposal Squads, local police teams and senior officers conducted thorough checks at the high court and at least four to five magistrate courts across Mumbai. Banks that received similar emails were also searched as a precaution.
Investigators believe the threats were sent by a repeat hoaxer who has been targeting sensitive institutions in Mumbai for over a year. Police said courts in the city have received similar bomb threat emails five to six times in the past year. All alerts eventually turned out to be hoaxes, but each is treated as a high-risk input.
According to officers, the emails follow a consistent pattern. They typically mention explosives such as RDX or improvised explosive devices and include conspiracy-driven references to political figures, intelligence agencies and judicial institutions.
One of the emails received on Thursday threatened explosions inside court premises and judges’ chambers, demanded evacuation by a specific time and made unrelated political and intelligence-linked claims. Investigators noted that in past instances, and again this time, a few Marathi words were used, possibly to vary the sender’s profile.
Mumbai Police are currently tracking the source of at least 20 bomb threat emails sent over the past year to prominent locations, including courts, the Bombay Stock Exchange, five-star hotels and schools. Investigators believe the same sender, or group, may also be linked to over 22 similar bomb threat cases registered in Chennai over the last three years.
Sources said the sender uses the dark web and virtual private networks to mask identity and location, making tracing difficult. The person behind the emails is suspected to be a Tamil expatriate settled abroad and is believed to be using encrypted overseas email services. Central agencies, including the Intelligence Bureau and the National Investigation Agency, are monitoring the probe due to potential national security implications.
“All threat emails to courts are treated with utmost seriousness. Searches are conducted strictly as per protocol, regardless of whether previous alerts turned out to be hoaxes,” a senior police officer said.
A non-cognisable complaint has been registered at Azad Maidan police station under Section 353(1)(b) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita in connection with the hoax threat email received on Thursday. Further investigation is underway.
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