Mumbai: Man arrested for making hoax bomb call to police helpline

The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has arrested one Abdul Gani Khan (23), a resident of Mustafa Bazaar in Byculla (E), for allegedly making a hoax call to the railway police helpline last month claiming a bomb had been planted in CST railway booking office.

According to the police, on October 29, around 2.25pm, the railway police helpline received a call from some unknown mobile number. "The caller claimed a bomb had been planted in the CST railway booking office. Senior officers were then informed and a dog squad and a bomb disposal squad pressed into service," said a police officer, requesting anonymity.

The entire booking office and nearby places were searched, but nothing suspicious was found, the police said. "It was clear the caller wanted to create panic among commuters and waste the time of the government machinery. A case was then registered at CST railway police against unknown caller," the officer said.

ATS, which had the mobile phone number from which the call had come, traced the details of the caller from call detail records. The caller was apprehended on October 31 and handed over to CST railway police.
Khan has been booked under sections 177 (furnishing false information), 182 (false information with intent to cause public servant to use his lawful power to the injury of another person), 505 (I) (B) (intent to cause, or which is likely to cause, fear or alarm to the public, or to any section of the public whereby any person may be induced to commit an offence against the state or against public tranquility), 507 (criminal intimidation by an anonymous communication) of the Indian Penal Code and section 66A of the Information Technology Act for sending offensive, annoying or threatening email, SMS or MMS.