Proceedings at 3 Mumbai magistrate courts suspended after bomb threat
What's the story
The magistrate courts in Andheri, Bandra, and Esplanade (Fort) were evacuated on Thursday after an anonymous email threatened explosions at the court complexes. The threat was received early in the day and warned of blasts at multiple magistrate courts across Mumbai. In response to the threat, judges, court staff, lawyers, and litigants were immediately evacuated from all three locations.
Threat response
Security measures and ongoing investigations
Security was tightened in and around the court complexes as bomb disposal squads and police teams conducted thorough anti-sabotage checks. A senior police officer said, "The threat mentioned magistrate courts specifically, so we treated it seriously and initiated standard operating procedures." Although no suspicious object has been found yet, investigations are still underway.
Proceedings halted
Court proceedings suspended, litigants express concern
The evacuation led to the suspension of court proceedings at the three locations, which deal with a high number of civil, criminal, and family cases every day. Litigants were seen waiting outside cordoned-off areas and expressed concern over delays in their cases. One litigant said, "We traveled from far away for our case. Now everything has been postponed."
Investigation underway
Cyber teams trace email origin, hoax suspected
Police said cyber teams have started tracing the email's origin, including its IP address and sender details. Investigators suspect that the threat may be a hoax since similar emails have been sent to courts and public institutions across India recently. In September, the Bombay High Court was also evacuated after receiving bomb threat emails mentioning explosives. Mumbai Police has advised citizens against spreading unverified information or speculating on social media, as these actions can cause unnecessary panic.