Noida astrologer who sent hoax threat messages to Mumbai traffic police granted bail

Police registered a case against the astrologer, identified as Ashwinikumar Supra, under Sections 196 (1) (A) (B) (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion…), 351 (2) (3) (4) (criminal intimidation) of the BNS.

Supra was arrested by the police on September 5, days after he allegedly sent a WhatsApp message to the Mumbai traffic police’s helpline number, claiming that 14 terrorists had entered the city with 400kg of RDX planted in 34 vehicles. The message was received around the time the city was preparing for the Ganesh festival.

The police began a probe into the veracity of the message, beefing up security measures, while also urging citizens not to believe in rumours, given the sensitive timing of the message around a major religious festival. The police probe, however, had revealed that the call was a hoax and arrested Supra from Noida, claiming that he had sent the message.

In his bail plea filed before the Bhoiwada judicial magistrate court, Supra claimed that he was innocent and had no concern with the alleged offence. The prosecutor opposed the plea contending that it is a serious offence, and bail should not be allowed as the accused could abscond.

The court noted that the investigation officer did not file a say. The court also said that a chargesheet was filed in the case and the investigation officer was directed to submit if Section 147 of the BNS was to be applied in the case.

“However, till today, IO has not added Section 147 of BNS. The accused has been in jail since 05/09/2025. Even though there is evidence against the accused, it will take considerable period for the trial of the case. In such a situation, no purpose will be served by keeping the accused in judicial custody for an indefinite period,” Nilesh N Dhend, judicial magistrate first class, said in the order passed on November 12.

Supra was granted bail on furnishing sureties of Rs 50,000 with conditions such as that he cannot leave India without prior permission of the court and that he shall not commit similar types of offences in the future.

During its probe, the police had found that in 2023, Supra had been arrested on charges of cheating on the complaint of a businessman named Firoz Ahmed and it was alleged that a fake threat message was sent in Ahmed’s name by Supra to exact revenge.