A chilling bomb threat sent via email plunged the Bombay High Court and two other major court complexes in Mumbai into a state of high alert on Tuesday, leading to the immediate evacuation of hundreds of lawyers, litigants, and court staff. The threat, received in the morning, prompted swift action from the Mumbai Police and security agencies, who launched exhaustive searches across the premises.
Panic and Precautionary Evacuation Across Key Judicial Hubs
The threatening email specifically named the iconic Bombay High Court building in south Mumbai, the City Civil and Sessions Court at the Esplanade, and the Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) court. Authorities, prioritizing safety, did not take any chances. Court proceedings were abruptly halted as police personnel cordoned off areas and began guiding people out of the buildings in an orderly evacuation.
Visuals from the scene showed streams of people, including judges in their robes and lawyers clutching legal files, gathering outside the court complexes as security was tightened. The Mumbai Police's Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS) and dog squads were swiftly deployed to scour the buildings for any suspicious objects. The email, which triggered the security scare, was traced to a sender identified as 'Ramesh R. Charan', according to initial police reports.
Intensive Search Operations and Return to Normalcy
For several tense hours, security teams conducted a meticulous, floor-by-floor search of the threatened court complexes. Sniffer dogs were used to check courtrooms, corridors, parking areas, and other facilities. After the thorough combing operation, no explosive device or suspicious material was found at any of the three locations. The police later declared the premises safe.
Following the all-clear, normal activities gradually resumed at the Bombay High Court and the other complexes by the afternoon. However, the incident left a palpable sense of unease and disrupted the judicial work for a significant part of the day. The Mumbai Police have registered a case and launched an investigation to trace the origin of the hoax email and identify the perpetrators behind it.
History of Threats and Enhanced Security Protocols
This is not an isolated incident for the Bombay High Court, which has been targeted by similar bomb threats in the past. Such hoaxes cause not only widespread panic and disruption but also strain the resources of the police and security forces. The repeated nature of these threats highlights the need for robust cyber-investigation capabilities to track down anonymous offenders who use technology to create chaos.
The swift response by the authorities today underscored the established protocols for such emergencies. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities faced by high-profile public institutions and the constant need for vigilance. The investigation will now focus on the digital trail of the email, with officials determined to take strict legal action against those responsible for orchestrating the scare.
