New Delhi: A 25-year-old unemployed man, Shubham Upadhyay, from Uttam Nagar, Delhi, has been arrested for allegedly unleashing a wave of panic by sending false bomb threats to multiple airlines.
This arrest comes after a string of similar incidents, including the detention of a 17-year-old last week in Mumbai, who was also accused of making bomb threats on flights.
Upadhyay, a Class 12 graduate, is believed to have been inspired by television reports about previous bomb hoaxes. He allegedly copied flight schedules and pasted them on social media, adding threatening messages that claimed bombs were planted on the planes. His motive, according to police, was to seek attention through a dangerous prank.
The Delhi police, acting swiftly after tracing the threats to Upadhyay’s account early Saturday, registered a case under the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against Safety of Civil Aviation (SUA-SCA) Act and sections of criminal intimidation under the Indian Penal Code.
While security has been enhanced around the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport, Delhi Police have assured the public that the situation is under control and they are actively investigating other claims.
The recent surge in bomb hoaxes has triggered concern across the aviation sector. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has issued an advisory to social media platforms, urging them to take immediate action against fake bomb threats and warning of consequences for negligence.
Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu, in a post on X (formerly Twitter), expressed deep concern over the incidents and assured the public that safety and security remain top priorities. “We are deeply concerned In the wake of recent hoax bomb threats disrupting air travel. I assure you that safety and security are our highest priorities, and we are committed to taking strict action against those behind these malicious acts. Let’s work together to ensure safe skies for all,” Naidu wrote on X.
