Home raided after hoax mail

A Ghatkopar resident was left baffled when officers from the Mumbai Crime Branch stormed into his home and started conducting a frantic search. On enquiring, the resident learnt that someone had sent an email to the Cyber Crime Investigation Cell (CCIC) of the Mumbai Police stating that many boxes of RDX and detonators were stocked at his residence. However, after nothing was found, the police are investigating who played the mischief.

According to crime branch sources, an email was received at the official website of CCIC at around 7.45am on Thursday from email ID vipul_vishawananth@rediffmail.com. “The email stated that one Kanna Kudi Fivaram Viswanathan has hidden multiple boxes of RDX and detonators at his residence in Krishna Jyot Building in Garodia Nagar in Ghatkopar (East). The email was signed by someone known as Murli,” said a police officer, requesting anonymity.

The officers rushed there to conduct a search. But when nothing was found after turning everything over for an hour, the email was discovered to be a prank. “On investigation, it was found that it was a mischievous mail. Viswanathan also denied that the email was of his or of someone related to him,” said the officer.

Joint commissioner of police (crime) Himanshu Roy confirmed the incident but refused to divulge details. “We are making inquiries and are trying to trace the person who had sent this email,” he said.

Vishwanathan refused to comment on the issue.