INTRODUCTION

Mumbai Police faced a major security scare during Ganesh Visarjan after receiving a WhatsApp message alleging that 34 vehicles across the city were loaded with “human bombs” containing 400 kg of RDX. The message, allegedly sent by 14 Pakistani terrorists under the name Lashkar-e-Jihadi, claimed they would “shake the entire city.” Swift action by multiple agencies eventually revealed it to be a hoax, leading to the arrest of a Noida-based astrologer.

FACTS OF THE CASE

• The threat was received on September 5–6, 2025, prompting a large-scale security response.

• Agencies involved: Mumbai Traffic Control Room, Crime Branch, Anti-Terrorism Squad, and others.

• Within hours, technical surveillance traced the origin of the message to Noida.

• The accused, Ashwin(i) Kumar aka Ashwin Kumar Supra, a 50-year-old astrologer from Patna living in Noida, was arrested.

• Seized items: seven mobile phones, multiple SIM cards, memory cards, and adapters.

ISSUE OF THE CASE

Whether the accused intentionally fabricated a terror threat to falsely implicate his old associate, thereby endangering public safety and creating widespread panic.

ARGUMENTS / INVESTIGATION FINDINGS

• During interrogation, Kumar confessed he orchestrated the hoax to frame his former friend, Firoz from Bihar.

• Background: Firoz had filed a cheating case in 2023 that led to Kumar’s three-month imprisonment.

• Kumar deliberately used Firoz’s name and identity in the WhatsApp threat to frame him as a terrorist.

LEGAL PROVISIONS INVOLVED

• Crime registered under Crime No. 381/25 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

• Charges: criminal intimidation, misuse of public safety mechanisms, and creating public disorder.

JUDGMENT / CURRENT STATUS

• The accused has been transferred to Mumbai for further interrogation.

• Mumbai Police confirmed the threat was a hoax but stressed its seriousness.

• Further legal proceedings under BNS are ongoing.

CONCLUSION

This case highlights how personal vendettas can dangerously exploit national security mechanisms, creating fear during sensitive festivals. The swift tracing and arrest demonstrate the effectiveness of inter-state police coordination and digital surveillance in combating modern threats.