The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) received a bomb threat via email on Thursday, sparking an immediate police investigation. The threatening message, written in Russian, was addressed to the RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra’s official email account, claiming that explosives would be used to target the bank’s head office in Mumbai.
According to a police officer, the security office of the RBI lodged a complaint, and an offense was registered by the MRA Marg police. The email sender, in Russian, allegedly stated that explosives would be used to blow up the RBI headquarters. The police have registered a case under sections 3531(t) (statements leading to public mischief) and 351(3) (criminal intimidation) of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. Authorities are working to trace the origin of the email.
While initial investigations suggest the threat may be a hoax, authorities are not taking any chances. Extra precautions are being implemented around the RBI headquarters in Mumbai, and the police are conducting detailed checks of the area.
The threat comes after a series of similar incidents involving the RBI. In December 2023, the RBI received multiple hoax bomb threats via email, claiming explosives had been planted in various locations within the bank. Similarly, in November 2024, a call was made to the RBI, where the caller, allegedly identifying as the CEO of the terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba, demanded that the bank be shut down. That threat was also determined to be a hoax but led to increased security measures at the RBI headquarters.
RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra, who took office recently, has inherited an institution that has faced such threats in the past. Despite the previous false alarms, the RBI and law enforcement agencies continue to treat all such incidents seriously, ensuring the safety of the public and the bank’s staff.
Investigations into the recent bomb threat are ongoing, with police and RBI security working together to identify the perpetrators and prevent any potential harm.
Sources By Agencies