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News18
18-07-2025
- News18
Bengaluru, Delhi, Mumbai School Bomb Threats: How Can Prank Callers Be Punished? Explained
Last Updated: Bomb threats to Bengaluru and Delhi schools, flights, stadium: What happens when bomb threat to schools or airline is found to be hoax? Explaining the law on prank calls Bomb threats to Bengaluru and Delhi schools, flights & stadium: Over 40 schools in Bengaluru received bomb threat emails on Friday, causing panic. Over five consecutive days till July 18, 36 educational institutions in Delhi, including schools and college, have received bomb hoax calls. Swami Vivekananda International School in Mumbai's Kandivli received a bomb threat on Friday. What happens when a bomb threat is made to a public place or institution or airline? What happens when it is found to be a hoax? How does the law punish the caller? Schools, airlines, public places: How many bomb threat hoaxes were made in 2025? School bomb threats: A rough estimate suggests around 150 separate bomb threats were received at schools and colleges across multiple cities in 2025. From July 14-16, a total of 10 institutions — 9 schools and 1 college – in Delhi received bomb threat emails. By July 18, the number went up to 36 schools. In the last one month, more than half a dozen schools in Mumbai, Mira Road, Vasai and other neighbouring cities have received bomb threats. From June 23 to July 4, at least four private schools in Vadodara received bomb threat emails signed by a group calling itself 'Madras Tigers', citing political motives. Airline bomb threats: According to Bureau of Civil Aviation Security and government official data, 24 bomb hoax calls targeted 15 flights — IndiGo (7), Air India (4), Lufthansa (2), Malindo (1), American Airlines — till March 2025, compared to 728 in 2024. But there have been more cases recently. The Patna Airport on July 11 received a bomb threat email. Similar hoaxes were reported on June 4 and June Kanpur & Agra Airports, bomb threat emails on July 1 prompted full searches. At the Kolkata Airport, a pipe bomb threat email on June 17 targeting a public figure was declared a hoax after a two-hour search. Patna airport received at least 1 confirmed bomb threat email on July 11, with similar hoaxes reported on June 4 and June 29. Some prominent cases: Air India flight AI 119 (Mumbai to JFK) turned back over Azerbaijan mid-air following a bomb threat note found in an onboard toilet. After 8 hours, the aircraft landed safely in Mumbai; no device was found. AI 379 (Phuket to New Delhi) returned to Phuket after a threatening message was found in the lavatory shortly after takeoff. All 156 passengers evacuated safely; the threat was confirmed as a hoax. Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (Hyderabad) received a bomb threat via email on May 9, 2025, indicating sleeper cell activity. No explosive found after search; operations continued normally. Authorities suspect the email was a hoax. On May 14, 2025, a note left in the lavatory of an Air India flight arriving from Kolkata triggered security checks; declared hoax after inspection. Public places, other institutions bomb threats: At least 60-75 public places, mainly in Jaipur, received bomb threats this year. Jaipur has received over 65 hoax emails aimed at stadiums, courts, hospitals, metro stations, and airports. Vijayawada LIC building and railway station received two bomb threat calls in 2025, prompting full security sweeps. In 2025, Mumbai witnessed at least six confirmed bomb hoax incidents across schools, public institutions, and transportation hubs. It included three schools, including one in Vile Parle and two in Kandivali. Public landmarks like Tata Memorial Hospital and the Bombay Stock Exchange were also targeted with bomb threats. A high-profile email in May warned of bombs at both Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport and the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel. Between July 14-17, the Golden Temple in Amritsar received a series of at least five distinct bomb threat emails, warning of RDX bombs reportedly planted inside the shrine—specifically targeting the langar hall and community areas. Bomb threat probe In Delhi case, a 12-year-old student was later identified as the sender of the July 15 threats to St. Thomas and St. Stephen's. He was released following counselling under juvenile jurisdiction. A c yber expert in Ahmedabad was arrested for sending a barrage of hoax bomb emails targeting schools, stadiums, metro stations, hospitals, and courts across India, including Jaipur's SMS Stadium. She allegedly used spoofed email IDs, VPNs, and 80+ virtual mobile numbers. What happens when a bomb threat is received? DGCA (Airlines & Airports): Bomb Threat Assessment Committee (BTAC) is formed immediately. Threats are classified as: Specific (credible): Full emergency response Non-specific: Monitored response DGCA's Bomb Threat Contingency Plan (BTCP) is followed by all Indian airports. Delhi Police SOP (Schools & Public Institutions): Evacuation, perimeter sealing, police verification. Post-incident review with cyber cell and local administration. What is the legal action taken after bomb hoax? A First Information Report (FIR) is registered under IPC, IT Act, Aircraft Act, depending on the location and threat mode. Cyber investigation starts (tracing IPs, emails, VPN usage, phone numbers). Those making bomb hoaxes can be booked under 1. Indian Penal Code (IPC), 1860 Section 505(1)(b) includes statements conducing to public mischief that causes fear or alarm to the public. Punishment: Up to 3 years imprisonment, or fine, or both. Section 182: False information with intent to cause public servant to use lawful power to the injury of another. Applicable when false info leads to unnecessary deployment of police or public authorities. Punishment: Up to 6 months or fine, or both. Section 336, 337, 338: Endangering life or personal safety of others. Used when actions (even hoaxes) cause panic, stampede, injury, etc. Punishment: Ranges from 3 months to 2 years depending on harm caused. Section 506 – Criminal intimidation. Includes threatening to cause death or injury (including via bombs). Punishment: Up to 7 years, fine, or both. Section 120B / 34: Criminal conspiracy or common intent. Added if more than one person is involved in planning the hoax. 2. The Aircraft Act, 1934 and Aircraft Rules, 1937 Section 11A – False threats regarding bombs on aircraft or airports Punishment: Up to 3 years, or Rs 10 lakh fine, or both. 3. The Anti-Hijacking Act, 2016 (only if threats are extreme and targeted) Section 3(1) – Even threats of hijacking or planting bombs may attract scrutiny under this act, though not always charged unless very severe. Punishment: Varies — in extreme cases may include life imprisonment or death if threat leads to actual loss of life. 4. Information Technology Act, 2000 Section 66D – Cheating by personation using computer resources. If hoax is sent via email, fake IP, VPN, etc. Punishment: Up to 3 years and/or fine up to Rs 1 lakh. Strict rules for airport bomb hoaxes As per DGCA Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) under Section 3 – Air Transport, a person making a false bomb threat can be: Put on the ' No-Fly List ' (under unruly passenger category). Banned from flying up to two years. Fined up to Rs 1 crore, especially if commercial operations are disrupted. Made to reimburse operational losses (delays, reroutes, emergency landings). What if the caller is a minor? Under Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015: If under 18, they are tried by Juvenile Justice Board. If above 16 and crime is heinous or repeat in nature, the child can be tried as an adult. top videos View all In July 2025, a 12-year-old student in Delhi was found responsible for bomb hoax emails sent to schools and St. Stephen's College. Authorities handled the case via the Juvenile Justice Board. Counselling and guardian supervision were advised. In severe juvenile cases, rehabilitation and observation homes may be involved. With Agency Inputs About the Author Manjiri Joshi At the news desk for 17 years, the story of her life has revolved around finding pun, facts while reporting, on radio, heading a daily newspaper desk, teaching mass media students to now editing special copies ...Read More Get Latest Updates on Movies, Breaking News On India, World, Live Cricket Scores, And Stock Market Updates. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : bomb hoax bomb hoax call bomb hoax news news18 specials view comments Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: July 18, 2025, 12:39 IST News explainers Bengaluru, Delhi, Mumbai School Bomb Threats: How Can Prank Callers Be Punished? Explained Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
The Independent
10-03-2025
- The Independent
Air India flight to New York diverted back to Mumbai after hoax bomb threat found in plane bathroom
An Air India flight bound for New York was forced to return to Mumbai mid-flight after a bomb threat was found in the aircraft toilets. Flight AI119 was around four hours into its almost 16-hour journey from India to the US when the 'potential security threat' was discovered on Monday (10 March). A Sahar police official said that one of 322 passengers and crew on board the Boeing 777 aircraft spotted a note with the message 'there is a bomb in the flight' in the bathroom, reported The New Indian Express. According to data from Flightradar24, the flight departed Mumbai International Airport for New York's JFK at around 2am local time before turning around in the airspace above Azerbaijan. Security agencies found the threat to be a hoax following 'mandatory checks' upon the flight's safe landing in Mumbai at 10.25am. The flight has been rescheduled to depart at 5am tomorrow (11 March), with the airline offering affected passengers overnight accommodation and meals on Monday. A spokesperson for Air India said: 'A potential security threat was detected mid-flight on AI119 operating Mumbai-New York (JFK) today, 10 March 2025. After following the necessary protocols, the flight air-returned to Mumbai, in the interest of the safety and security of all on board.' It added: 'Our colleagues on the ground are making sure to minimise the inconvenience caused to our passengers by this disruption. As always, Air India accords the highest priority to the safety of passengers and crew.' It's not the first time the Air India flight has been thrown off course by a bomb threat. In October, . The AI119 flight from Mumbai, carrying 239 passengers, on 14 October. The bomb threat was made via a post on X, Usha Rangnani, a senior police officer in charge of security at the Delhi airport, said at the time.
