Noida man held for hoax bomb threat in Mumbai ahead of Anant Chaturdashi

Mumbai,UPDATED: Sep 6, 2025 09:44 IST

The Mumbai Police on Friday arrested a 50-year-old man from Noida, Uttar Pradesh, for allegedly sending a WhatsApp message threatening bomb blasts across the city on Anant Chaturdashi, being observed this Saturday, September 6.

The accused, identified as Ashwin Kumar Supra, originally hails from Bihar. Police said his mobile phone and SIM card used to send the threat have been seized He was being transferred to Mumbai for further investigation, police said.

The message, received on the official WhatsApp number of the Mumbai Traffic Police, claimed that “human bombs” had been planted in 34 vehicles and that the city would be “shaken” by explosions.

The sender identified themselves as “Lashkar-e-Jihadi” and alleged that 14 Pakistani terrorists had entered India, according to police. The threat also claimed that 400 kg of RDX would be detonated, potentially killing “one crore people”.

A senior officer said the threat appeared to be a hoax, but the city was placed on high alert nonetheless. “We are investigating from all angles. Security has been intensified across Mumbai,” the officer said.

HEIGHTENED VIGILANCE DURING FESTIVAL

The threat comes as Mumbai prepares for the final day of Ganesh idol immersions on Saturday, which draws lakhs of devotees to the streets. Authorities have stepped up vigil at key locations and launched combing operations.

Police have appealed to citizens not to believe rumours and to report any suspicious activity. Over 21,000 personnel will be deployed to maintain law and order during the processions, and for the first time, artificial intelligence will be used for traffic management and route updates.

STRING OF HOAX CALLS IN RECENT MONTHS

Mumbai and nearby Thane have seen multiple hoax threats in recent months. Earlier this week, a 43-year-old man was arrested for falsely claiming a bomb had been planted at Kalwa railway station.

In July, a threat to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport triggered a massive search before being declared a hoax. In January, several schools received bomb threat emails from a group calling itself the “Afzal Gang,” which also turned out to be false.

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