Harsh reality: Threats to Mukesh Ambani's family over the years

In another case of threat calls to Mukesh Ambani's family, the police in Mumbai on Thursday detained one person from Darbhanga in Bihar. The calls received by a hospital run by the Reliance Foundation were the latest of the threats issued to the billionaire industrialist and his family.

The accused was Rakesh Kumar Mishra (30) who allegedly made calls to Sir H N Reliance Foundation Hospital earlier this week, threatening to blow up the hospital and kill Ambani, his wife Nita and sons Akash and Anant.

The caller had also threatened to blow up Antilia, the famous south Mumbai residence of the Ambani family on Altamount Road in South Mumbai.


Another threat call
According to the city police, this is the second instance of the Ambani family getting threats on the hospital landline number. On August 15 this year, the hospital had received at least nine calls threatening the Reliance Industries chairman and his family members, PTI reported citing an official. On that occasion, Bishnu Vidu Bhoumik (56) was arrested in connection with the calls.

Shocking incident
In November 2021, Mumbai Police increased the security outside Antilia following a tip given by a taxi driver about a possible threat, but investigation found there was no such threat. But an incident involving a threat to the Ambani family earlier that year made national headlines and shook the state government.

On February 25, 2021, an explosive-laden SUV was found parked on Carmichael Road in South Mumbai, near the Ambani residence. Police recovered a printed threat note inside along with gelatin sticks. The note read this was only a "trailer" and there would be assembled explosives next time instead of just loose sticks. Mansukh Hiran, a Thane-based businessman, told police the SUV had been stolen from his possession.

Dangerous turn of events
The matter took a grim turn when Hiran was found dead in a creek in Thane a few days later, and an Assistant Inspector of Mumbai crime branch, Sachin Waze was arrested for alleged involvement in parking the SUV near Antilia and also for Hiran's murder.

The affair also led to Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh being shunted out. An angry Singh then accused then home minister Anil Deshmukh of asking police to collect money from bars in Mumbai; Deshmukh subsequently resigned and the CBI registered a corruption case against him.

Mukesh Ambani currently has a Z-Plus security cover, provided by the Central government. The Central Industrial Security Force provides security to his residence.
In 2013, a letter sent in the name of terror outfit Indian Mujahidin was delivered to Ambani's Maker Chambers office in Nariman Point area. It threatened him for supporting then Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi.

(With PTI inputs)