A wave of bomb threats sent under the name of the ‘Khalistan National Army’, an armed separatist group, put the security apparatus of Maharashtra and Gujarat on high alert on Wednesday morning.
The threats allegedly targeted government offices such as the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC), the Gujarat Chief Minister’s Office, financial institutions, legislative buildings and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) shakhas, triggering evacuations and extensive searches.
In Mumbai, the BMC headquarters received a bomb threat at around 9.21 am. In the email, sent from the ID loretta1963drake@gmail.com, the sender allegedly claimed allegiance to the Khalistan National Army and detailed a timeline of blasts.
The email allegedly warned that a bomb blast would occur at Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde’s office at approximately 1.11 pm. It also claimed that several other civic offices would witness explosions later at 3.11 pm. The sender specified that the blasts would be carried out using cars rigged with improvised explosive devices (IEDs), police said.
Along with the BMC headquarters, the email listed other locations in Mumbai, warning of explosions at the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) and various RSS shakhas.
Responding to the incident, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said, “Such emails keep coming. Whenever one is received, we take it seriously and conduct a proper investigation. However, most such emails turn out to be hoaxes. It is important to trace those responsible, and efforts to do so are underway.”
After conducting searches and verifying the threat, the Mumbai police registered a case against an unidentified person under Section 353(1)(B) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which deals with spreading false information, rumours or reports that cause public fear or alarm.
Maneesh Kalwania, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 1), confirmed the development and said efforts were underway to identify the sender.
According to police sources, the threat appeared to be a hoax. Preliminary investigations suggest the email was sent using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) and is currently being traced to the United States.
Speaking to The Indian Express, a senior civic official said the police and the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS) were notified immediately after the message was received.
“The BMC is operating normally, and the mayor is currently chairing a meeting. The civic body will continue to function as scheduled unless there is any update from the police,” a civic spokesperson said.
Using the BMC’s independent security force, additional personnel were deployed around the offices of the mayor and deputy mayor. Security was also tightened around the offices of Mumbai’s municipal commissioner and the four additional municipal commissioners, all senior IAS officers.
“Every individual entering the building is being frisked thoroughly, and all vehicles are being rigorously checked before being allowed into the civic parking lot,” an official added.
Threat to RSS HQ, PMC evacuation
PMC headquarters in Shivajinagar, the RSS headquarters in Nagpur’s Mahal area and the Hedgewar Smruti Mandir premises in Reshimbag were also evacuated on Wednesday morning after receiving similar bomb threats.
The alert was triggered after an email was received in the PMC’s IT support inbox at 8.21 am. Following the warning, civic authorities informed the police, prompting personnel and the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS) to rush to the premises. As a precaution, employees and visitors were evacuated from the main building while the area was searched.
The message claimed that a bomb had been planted to target the Pune mayor’s office. According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Rahul Madne of Nagpur, the email sent to the Pune Municipal Corporation also mentioned the RSS headquarters and the Hedgewar Smruti Mandir.
Following the alert, police and bomb disposal teams conducted searches at the locations, after which no suspicious objects or explosives were found.
“Police teams were deployed immediately to cordon off the area and manage crowd control around the perimeter,” a senior police officer said, confirming that multi-agency security protocols were activated without delay.
An RSS functionary said additional security arrangements had been made at the Hedgewar Smarak Samiti premises in Reshimbag, where the annual training camp of the Rashtra Sevika Samiti is currently underway.
Considering the contents of the email, various agencies, including the police, the Anti-Terrorism Squad and Central government authorities, are examining the case, officials said.
Police are also verifying whether the threat was merely a hoax or had any link to the separatist group, sources said.
Bomb threat to Gujarat CM’s office
The office of Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel in Gandhinagar, the AMC headquarters and the RSS office in Ahmedabad also received bomb threats allegedly sent in the name of the Khalistan National Army.
The CMO was not evacuated, but police conducted checks and found no suspicious items, declaring the threat a hoax.
However, the AMC office at Danapith was evacuated and an inspection was underway.
Employees wait outside the Pune Municipal Corporation headquarters while the bomb squad conducts a search operation Wednesday morning (Express photo by Arul Horizon). 
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