Kolkata Police have arrested a 23-year-old man for allegedly sending a fake email to the Bhowanipore police station, claiming a plot was being hatched to assassinate Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, officials confirmed on Saturday.
Fake Threat Email Investigation
The email, received at the Bhowanipore police station at 10:45 AM on May 14, alleged that a woman linked to the militant outfit Al-Qaeda was planning to kill the Chief Minister by preparing explosives for a suicide attack. The threat prompted an immediate investigation, with police launching a cyber-tracking operation to identify the sender.
Using advanced cyber forensic techniques, high-tech surveillance, and IP tracking, investigators traced the origin and route of the email. With assistance from the Garden Reach police station, the source of the email was identified, leading to the arrest of the accused, Hasnain Iqbal.
Accused Admits Fabrication
Police said the accused was tracked down within two days of the threat message being received. During questioning, he admitted that the message was fabricated. The woman named in the email had a personal dispute with him, and he attempted to falsely implicate her due to personal animosity, said Solomon V Nesakumar, Additional CP, Kolkata Police.
Although educated only up to class 12, police noted that the accused possessed advanced knowledge of information technology and cyber tools. He was produced before a court on Saturday and remanded to police custody until May 18.
Previous Fake Emails
Preliminary investigations revealed that the accused had allegedly sent similar fake emails to several political personalities in the past. Authorities also found that anonymous emails had previously been sent to the Election Commission.
Police Warning
Addressing reporters at Lalbazar on Saturday, police warned that legal action would be taken against anyone attempting to spread misinformation through such threat emails. Officials said those responsible for such acts would eventually be identified and apprehended. Police also assured that no compromise was being made regarding the Chief Minister's security arrangements following the threat message.
