A 50 year-old man, identified as Ashwini Kumar, originally from Patna, was arrested in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, on Saturday for allegedly sending a hoax bomb threat to the Mumbai Traffic Police’s WhatsApp helpline. The threatening message, received on Thursday, September 4, 2025, claimed that 14 Pakistani terrorists had entered Mumbai with 400 kilograms of RDX planted in 34 vehicles, posing as “human bombs” to “kill 1 crore people” during the ongoing Ganesh Chaturthi festival.
The Mumbai Police Crime Branch, in coordination with the Noida Police, swiftly traced the message to Kumar, who was apprehended within 24 hours from his residence in Sector 79, Noida. The investigation revealed that Kumar, a postgraduate working as an astrologer and Vastu consultant, sent the message to frame a former friend, Firoz, as an act of personal revenge. In 2023, Firoz had filed a case against Kumar in Patna’s Phulwari Sharif police station, leading to Kumar’s three-month imprisonment. To settle the score, Kumar used Firoz’s name in the threat message to implicate him in a terror case.
The message, triggered a high alert in Mumbai, especially as the city prepared for Anant Chaturdashi, the final day of the Ganesh festival marked by large-scale idol immersion processions. Mumbai Police deployed over 21,000 personnel, intensified combing operations, and utilised artificial intelligence for traffic management to ensure public safety. The Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and other agencies were also informed to assist in the investigation.
During Kumar’s arrest, authorities seized seven mobile phones, three SIM cards, six memory card holders, one external SIM slot, two digital cards, and four additional SIM card holders from his possession. A case has been registered at Worli police station under sections 196(1)(a)(b), 351(2), 351(3), and 351(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for criminal intimidation and related charges.
Preliminary investigations suggest the threat was a hoax intended to create panic. “We take every threat seriously, especially during festivals like Ganesh Chaturthi,” said a senior Mumbai Police officer. “The accused was traced using technical analysis and local intelligence, and we urge citizens to remain vigilant but not panic.” Kumar was brought to Mumbai for further questioning. Mumbai Police have appealed to the public to avoid spreading rumours and report any suspicious activity as the city continues its festivities under heightened security.
