How a ‘missile threat’ shut down Maharashtra Vidhan Bhavan and triggered panic across Mumbai landmarks

MUMBAI: All staffers at Vidhan Bhavan were evacuated from the premises on Thursday morning and a search operation was carried out after the state legislature got a "bomb and missile" threat on email. The mail came at 6.57 am, when most legislators had not arrived at the premises, officials said, adding that the budget session of the legislature later functioned as scheduled through the day.

Apart from Vidhan Bhavan, the mail also mentioned the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), Metro, the high court and some banks, state legislative council chairman Ram Shinde said.

The Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS) and the dog squad were called in to inspect the Vidhan Bhavan premises and investigate the matter, he said.



Minister of state for home Pankaj Bhoyar said prima facie the mail seemed to be a hoax, but necessary security arrangements have been made. "Since there is a war going on in the Gulf, words like missiles were used. But it was a hoax, so there is no need to panic," he said. Bhoyar said that the police were investigating the email id where the mail had come from and also the IP address.

According to the police, the threat email made mention of 'Khalistan National Army.' An offence has been registered against an unknown email sender at Marine Drive police station on the complaint of the security officer of Vidhan Bhavan and the matter is being probed further, police said.

"On Thursday at 6:57 am, there was an email on the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) branch email id with the threat of a bomb and missile. The threat was for four other locations, so those areas too are being inspected by the police... The email also mentions timing," Shinde said.

Minister of state for home Yogesh Kadam said that the bomb squad had inspected the premises and the legislature was "completely safe." "There is no threat of any kind here," he said.

A senior police officer said, "Threat mails have been received at the Bombay Stock Exchange, Vidhan Bhavan and the high court on Thursday morning. Adequate security measures have been taken and are in place in all the places."

He added that the necessary legal action was being taken at the respective police stations.