Bomb blast threat to RBI and other major banks in Mumbai; no suspicious object found, say police

Mumbai Police on Tuesday said that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and two major banks received bomb threats demanding the resignation of Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das.

The banks received the bomb threat through an email sent to them. The email – with subject line "Breaking News" – with CC to several officials, added the alleged locations of 3 bombs at RBI New Central Office Building in Fort, HDFC House at Churchgate, and ICICI Bank Towers at Bandra Kurla Complex.

The e-mail was sent from the id khilafat.india@gmail.com on the RBI governor's email id at around 10:50 am 1:30 pm, a police official said.


"We have planted 11 bombs in different locations of Mumbai RBI along with private sector banks have executed the biggest scam in the history of India," the email read.

"This scam involves RBI Governer 'Shaktikanta Das', Finance Minister 'Nirmala Sitharaman', some of the top banking officials and some renowned ministers of India we have sufficient solid proof for the same," the mail added.

"11 bombs are planted at different locations in Mumbai and explosions will take place at 1.30 pm at the RBI new Central Office building, Fort, HDFC House in Churchgate, and ICICI Bank Tower in Bandra-Kurla Complex. All the 11 bombs will blast one by one (sic)," it said.

Police conducted searches at all the locations mentioned in the e-mail with Bomb Detection and Disposal (BDDS) personnel, but nothing suspicious was found at these spots, the official said.

He said a case has been registered against an unidentified person on the complaint of the RBI head guard under various sections of the Indian Penal Code including 505-1 b (Making or circulating a false alarm or warning as to disaster or its severity or magnitude, leading to panic), 502-2 (Statements conducting public mischief) and 506- 2 (Criminal intimidation).

Security was tightened after the bomb threats were received by the banks.

(with agency inputs)