A major security alert was triggered in the heart of Chennai on Sunday evening after a bomb threat was made against the official residence of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin. The incident, which turned out to be a dangerous hoax, led to a swift and large-scale response from the city's police and bomb squads.
The Threat and Immediate Police Response
The chain of events began when the police control room received a call from an individual claiming that he had planted explosives at the Chief Minister's residence on Chitharanjan Road. The caller, later identified as Vinoth Kumar, delivered the threat and promptly disconnected the line. Taking no chances, authorities immediately mobilized personnel from the Teynampet police station.
Specialized units, including Bomb Detection and Disposal Squads (BDDS) and teams with sniffer dogs, were rushed to the location. A thorough and tense search operation was conducted across the premises and the surrounding areas on Chitharanjan Road to ensure no explosive device was present.
The Hoax Revealed and Arrest Made
After an extensive search, officials confirmed that the threat was completely false and there was no danger to the Chief Minister or the public. With the threat declared a hoax, the focus shifted to identifying and apprehending the individual responsible for the malicious call.
Utilizing technical surveillance, police investigators successfully traced the origin of the call. The trail led them to a TASMAC outlet in Selaiyur, a suburb of Chennai. At the state-run liquor shop, police located and detained the suspect, Vinoth Kumar. Preliminary investigations suggested he was in an inebriated state when he made the call.
Legal Consequences and Judicial Custody
Following his detention, Vinoth Kumar was formally arrested for creating public alarm and wasting precious police resources. He was subsequently produced before a magistrate, who ordered him to be remanded in judicial custody. The case highlights the serious legal repercussions of making false security threats, which can lead to severe charges under the Indian Penal Code.
This incident underscores the constant security challenges faced by high-profile figures and the efficiency of Chennai Police in responding to potential threats. It also serves as a stern warning against the grave consequences of making prank or hoax calls to emergency services, which divert critical resources from genuine emergencies.
