Nagpur man arrested for sending 30 fake bomb threats to airlines: Ashwini Vaishnav, Devendra Fadnavis

The Nagpur-based Maharashtra Police has arrested a 35-year-old man for allegedly sending 30 bomb threat emails to several airlines and airports across the country and also to some ministers.

The accused, identified as Shriram Uikey, made the bomb threat between October 25 and 30. He was arrested by the police on Thursday, October 31.

Uikey also sent threatening emails to Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and others.

In the last two weeks it’s over 500 domestic and international flights received bomb threatscausing serious operational and financial difficulties for airlines. Security agencies later dismissed the threats as a “hoax”.

Most of the threats were published via social media.

Based on the investigation, the police further added that on October 21, Uikey also sent threatening emails to ministers and senior government officials, including Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnawa, Maharashtra Vice-Chairman Devendra Fadnavis and Director General of the Railway Protection Force (DGRPF) among others.

Police said Uikey demanded to meet Fadnavis, claiming that he would provide details about the explosion during their meeting.

In his threatening emails, Uikey said that terrorist groups had targeted six airports and hijacked 31 planes from several airlines.

Commenting on the matter, Nagpur Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Lohit Matani said that Uike was arrested from Nagpur city late on Thursday evening and investigation is on.

Earlier, the Kerala Police also arrested a man for allegedly issuing a fake bomb threat on an Air Arabia flight bound for Abu Dhabi from the Karipur International Airport in the district.

The accused, identified as Mohammed Ijas (26) from Palakkad district of the state, was arrested under relevant sections of the Civil Aviation Act, Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) and the Kerala Police Act and was sent to prison after being granted custody by the court .