Hoax bomb threat emails sent to BMC office and two PNB branches in Mumbai

Mumbai was rattled by a bomb threat once again on Thursday. Emails were sent targeting an office of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and two branches of Punjab National Bank (PNB). Security checks were carried out at Zaveri Bazaar and Marine Lines. The threats turned out to be fake.

According to police officials, the emails, received on November 12, claimed that explosives had been planted at all three locations. Local police reached the spots and searched the entire premises thoroughly. Nothing suspicious was found, and the threats were declared a hoax.

Police have registered a case and legal action is under way. The investigating teams are examining technical clues in the emails, including the sender's address and IP details, to establish where the emails were sent from.

DCP (South Zone 2) Ragasudha R confirmed that the sender of the email has not been identified. She said, "We have not yet identified the person who sent the threat email. Our teams are working on it and legal action is being taken."

Police officials said that sending hoax bomb threat emails is an offence under the law and can attract serious charges. Such threats waste the valuable time of the police force and spread panic.

The incident follows similar fake emails sent to actor Amitabh Bachchan and the BMC Mayor. The city's security agencies are on alert, as every threat is treated as genuine until an investigation proves otherwise.