Ranchi Civil Court Bomb Threat Proves to Be a Hoax After Police Investigation
In Ranchi, a bomb threat targeting the civil court premises has been confirmed as a hoax by city police following an extensive security operation. The incident unfolded over two days, prompting a high-alert response from law enforcement agencies.
Timeline of the Threat and Police Response
The threatening email was received by the civil court’s registrar on the evening of February 4, which coincided with the holiday of Shab-e-barat. The message threatened to detonate RDX explosives on the court premises that same day. However, the registrar’s office only detected the email on February 5 and immediately notified the police.
Acting swiftly on the information, Ranchi police mobilized bomb detection and disposal squads along with sniffer dogs by Friday noon. A comprehensive security audit was conducted, with multiple police teams inspecting various areas including open spaces, parking lots, and lifts. No explosives were found during the thorough search.
Investigation Reveals Confusing Details
SP (city) Paras Rana stated, “We are investigating the case to verify and trace its source and the sender. There is also confusion in the content as the mail has been sent to the Ranchi civil court, but it mentions Bihar.”
Sources revealed that the email was addressed to one Arum Kumar of the DMK’s IT wing, seemingly referencing Tamil Nadu’s ruling DMK party. The message demanded the release of LTTE prisoners, though officials confirmed no such prisoners are held in Jharkhand jails. Despite this discrepancy, precautionary security checks were carried out.
Security Enhancements at Court Premises
Following the threat, authorities have initiated measures to bolster security at the civil court campus. Installation of boom barriers and flap barriers is currently underway at all gates surrounding the court premises. These measures aim to prevent unauthorized entry and enhance overall safety. Additionally, the entire court complex is under comprehensive CCTV surveillance, covering every corner of the facility.
Broader Pattern of Similar Threats
This incident in Ranchi is not isolated. Multiple courts in Odisha recently received similar threatening emails, just one day after Italian and Japanese consulates in Bengaluru faced hoax bomb threats. Odisha police reported that district and sessions courts in Cuttack, Puri, Phulbani, Sambalpur, Bargarh, and Jajpur all received emails threatening RDX bomb detonations on their premises.
Police sources indicated that both the recent Odisha threats and the January 8 threats originated from the same email address—arundale_kumar@hotmail.com—and contained references to Tamil Nadu constables and the LTTE. Authorities took these threats seriously, particularly during President Droupadi Murmu’s visit to Odisha, conducting extensive security checks despite the January 8 threats having been previously confirmed as hoaxes.
Previous Incidents in Bihar
Bihar has experienced similar security scares in recent months. On January 29, five civil courts in Samastipur, Bhagalpur, Siwan, Begusarai, and Muzaffarpur received bomb threats causing widespread panic. Earlier on January 8, several courts including Patna civil court and Danapur sub-divisional court were evacuated following anonymous email threats claiming RDX explosives were present on the premises. Although bomb squads were deployed and thorough searches conducted, no explosives were found at any location.
Patna authorities had previously heightened security measures at civil courts in October 2025 following another email bomb threat, demonstrating an ongoing pattern of such hoaxes affecting judicial institutions across multiple states.
Context of the Security Operation
During the security audit in Ranchi, lawyers were abstaining from court work to protest against alleged misbehavior by an SC-ST thana officer toward women advocates the previous day. This added complexity to the security situation as police conducted their investigations amid reduced court activity.
The coordinated response by Ranchi police and the subsequent declaration of the threat as a hoax highlights the challenges law enforcement faces in distinguishing credible threats from malicious hoaxes while maintaining public safety and judicial security.
