Delhi and Bombay High Courts receive hoax bomb threats; police probe suspicious emails

There was panic at the Delhi High Court premises on Friday after a threat email warning of an explosion was received. However, police later confirmed it to be a hoax following thorough checks.

The premises were evacuated by the police and concerned agencies as a precautionary measure, while the bomb detection and disposal squad conducted searches in line with Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

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Later, DCP New Delhi told reporters that the threat was a hoax and added that the email through which it was sent is being verified and investigated.

Meanwhile, litigants and advocates attending hearings were seen leaving the court premises.

The police, along with other agencies, conducted a complete anti-sabotage check of the area. The Delhi Police cyber cell is investigating the source and origin of the threat email, which had claimed that explosives were placed in the court premises.

After the Delhi High Court incident, a similar threat email was received on Friday targeting the Bombay High Court. Hearings were briefly suspended as the premises were evacuated and checks were carried out. This threat too turned out to be a hoax.

Despite being false alarms, the threats created considerable panic in both courts, forcing police and administrative authorities to take swift action.

The bomb scares come close on the heels of recent hoax threat emails targeting Delhi’s medical institutions and the Chief Minister’s Secretariat.

Meanwhile, sources say that the hoax threat email received regarding the Delhi High Court mentions Pakistan and Tamil Nadu, along with a purported contact related to locating the explosive devices on the premises.

The email also claims that the planning for the alleged attack had been underway for a long time, though the narrative appears confusing and inconsistent.

Police are investigating the matter, and sources note that this email differs from the earlier hoax threats that had previously targeted schools in the city.

On Tuesday, a hoax bomb threat email was sent to Maulana Azad Medical College (MAMC) and the CM Secretariat, warning of possible detonations. Security agencies promptly took precautionary measures to ensure the safety of all present.

Officials later said that a preliminary assessment of the email indicated similarities with previous hoax threats.