Noida Astrologer Arrested for Mumbai Bomb Threat Ahead of Ganesh Visarjan

A 51-year-old man named Ashwini Kumar, originally from Patliputra in Bihar and residing in Noida for the past five years, was arrested for allegedly sending a bomb threat to Mumbai. Kumar, who works as an astrologer, sent a WhatsApp message to the Mumbai Traffic Police claiming that there were 34 “human bombs” placed across the city and that 14 Pakistani terrorists had entered India. The message named “Lashkar-e-Jihadi” as the organization behind the threat and warned of 400 kg of RDX being used for explosions, coinciding with the Ganesh Visarjan festivities, prompting authorities to put Mumbai on high alert.

During their investigation, police discovered that Ashwini’s motive was to frame his friend Firoz, due to a past personal dispute—Ashwini had previously spent three months in jail after Firoz filed a case against him in 2023. Acting in revenge, Ashwini sent the threatening message in Firoz’s name, using digital devices including multiple mobile phones and SIM cards, which were seized upon his arrest. Police are bringing Ashwini to Mumbai for further interrogation and have registered a case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

Authorities took the bomb threat seriously due to the timing and content of the message, especially during a major festival. Intensive security checks and a high alert status were implemented throughout Mumbai, while the Crime Branch, Anti-Terrorism Squad, and cyber units began a thorough probe into the incident