Noida astrologer held for hoax Mumbai terror threat, wanted to frame friend-turned-foe

The accused, Ashwani Kumar (51), a native of Patna in Bihar, was living in a housing society in Noida's Sector 79 for the past five years. He described himself as an astrologer and vastu expert, the officials said.

Mumbai: In a swift operation, the Mumbai Police have arrested a 51-year-old man for sending a threat message coinciding with Ganeshotsav festival that human bombs planned a major strike in India’s financial capital.

The accused was identified as Ashwini Kumar (51), who is an astrologer and vastu consultant from Patliputra in Patna in Bihar.

The Mumbai police arrested him from Noida in Uttar Pradesh.

The message on the WhatsApp helpline of Mumbai Traffic Police by ‘Lashkar-e-Jihadi’ claimed that 34 cars carrying human bombs will be used to detonate 400 kgs of RDX killing one crore people.

The message coming on the eve of Anant Chaturdashi, the final day of the immersion, which includes massive celebrations on the roads, sent the Mumbai police and security agencies into a tizzy.

After the threat message, a case was registered by the Worli police station as Crime No. 381/25 under sections 196(1)(a)(b), 351(2), 351(3), and 351(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita - and massive investigations were launched.

He had switched off his mobile phone and was arrested from Noida Sector 79 based on local intelligence, surveillance and CCTV footage.

In a post on X, the Mumbai Police said: “Bomb Threat Suspect Arrested Within 24 Hours: The Mumbai Crime Branch has arrested a man from Noida, Uttar Pradesh, for allegedly issuing a bomb threat to the city. The investigation team also recovered the mobile phone and SIM card used in the crime. Yesterday, the Mumbai Traffic WhatsApp Helpline received a bomb threat message. Citizens are advised not to believe in rumours and are encouraged to reach out to us directly for any assistance.”