Delhi Police arrest Mysuru man behind 1,100+ hoax threat messages in major crackdown

Delhi Police confirmed on Monday that they arrested a man from Karnataka's Mysuru for allegedly sending over 1,100 hoax bomb threat messages to schools, institutions, courts, and government offices across India.

The accused, 47-year-old Srinivas Louis, was arrested from his rental apartment in Mysuru on Sunday after weeks of surveillance.

Delhi Police said the arrest followed a detailed investigation using technical surveillance.

Over the past few months, the Delhi High Court, Assembly, and multiple education and government institutes received repeated bomb threats, sparking panic.

Mental state of accused unstable: Police

Speaking to the media, Delhi Police said that the mental state of the accused seemed to be unstable. “The threats that were sent were transmitted via email. Cases have been registered across several states. Preliminary investigations suggest that the individual's mental state is unstable.”

“These threats had led to heightened security measures, evacuations and disruption of normal functioning at several institutions. In one such instance, a judge of the Delhi High Court had also lodged a formal complaint after receiving a threat email,” an official told Hindustan Times.

According to the report by HT, Srinivas Louis, who currently lives with his mother, is unemployed. He is a native of Bengaluru and holds a postgraduate degree.

“He deliberately targeted prominent institutions, including courts and educational establishments, to maximise panic,” an officer told HT.

How did Delhi Police arrest man behind hoax threats?

According to a PTI report, quoting people familiar with the investigation, Louis was found to be operating from a house at 6th cross, 2nd phase, Brindavan Layout, Mysuru.

During their investigation, Delhi Police identified a suspect and sent a team to Mysuru to arrest him after receiving a tip-off. The police are taking Louis to Delhi, HT reported.

The accused allegedly confessed to sending over 1,100 threat messages to various institutions across India during preliminary investigations. Police said multiple FIRs have been registered against him in different states.

“The exact motive will be ascertained after he reaches Delhi and a detailed interrogation takes place,” the officer told HT.

The operation was carried out with the assistance of personnel from VV Puram police station in Mysuru, according to PTI.

"The accused had been hiding in the city while continuing to send threatening messages through email," police sources told PTI.

During the raid, police seized several SIM cards and a laptop believed to have been used to send the hoax messages. The police are examining digital evidence to trace the full extent of the hoax threats sent.

The accused had allegedly been sending multiple threat emails within a short span, warning of explosions and causing widespread alarm. Those targeted include multiple schools, colleges, government offices and even the Delhi High Court.

The Delhi Police produced the accused before a Mysuru court and obtained his custody. Police said that they were ascertaining whether he operated alone or had any accomplices.