Fake Bomb Threat Emails Target Civic Offices and Banks in Mumbai and Pune

Bomb threat emails sent to civic offices and banks in Mumbai and Pune triggered extensive security checks on Thursday. Police and bomb squad units searched the targeted premises but found no suspicious items. Threat messages reached a Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation office, the Mumbai Mayor's office, and Punjab National Bank branches in Zaveri Bazar and Marine Lines. The emails claimed that explosives were planted on the properties. Additional threats warned of blasts at the Mumbai airport and actor Amitabh Bachchan's home. Sources noted that the messages included references to Khalistan and comments about the 1984 anti-Sikh violence.

Investigation

Local police and bomb detection teams rushed to the affected sites to conduct thorough inspections. Deputy Commissioner of Police Zone 2 Raghasudha R. confirmed that the emails were a hoax and stated that legal proceedings are underway. Investigators are now tracking the technical trail, including IP details and sender addresses, to find the culprits. Meanwhile, the Pune Municipal Corporation also received a threatening email on its official address warning of an explosive device inside the building. Fire brigade and bomb squad members searched the Pune civic building and cleared it after finding nothing.

Context

False bomb threats sent through email often disrupt public services and force emergency teams to divert resources from real crises. Authorities use digital forensics to trace the internet protocols of senders who try to hide behind anonymous accounts. Civic buildings and public transport hubs remain frequent targets for such scare tactics due to high public footfall.