Mumbai: A bomb threat sent via email to the Maharashtra Vidhan Bhavan during the ongoing budget session triggered a major security alert on Thursday morning before authorities confirmed that the message was a hoax. Police conducted a thorough search of the premises and later declared the building safe after no suspicious objects were found.
The threat email, which warned of a possible explosion inside the legislative complex, prompted immediate evacuation of staff, officials and visitors as security agencies launched precautionary checks across the premises.
Email triggers security alert
The threatening email was reportedly received in the morning while proceedings related to the budget session of the Maharashtra Legislature were underway.
The Vidhan Bhavan complex, located at Nariman Point, houses both the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly and the Maharashtra Legislative Council.
Upon receiving the threat, security officials immediately activated emergency protocols to ensure the safety of lawmakers, staff and visitors present inside the building.
Police officials said the threat warned that explosives had been placed inside the sprawling complex and that the building would be blown up.
Evacuation and search operation
Following the alert, all employees and visitors were safely evacuated from the premises as a precautionary measure.
Authorities also shut all entry and exit gates of the Vidhan Bhavan complex around 8:25 am to prevent movement in and out of the building while the search operation was underway.
Teams from Mumbai Police quickly arrived at the location to secure the area and coordinate the response.
Specialised units including the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad were deployed to inspect the entire building.
Officials conducted detailed checks of offices, corridors, meeting halls and other sections of the complex to rule out the presence of explosives or suspicious objects.
Building declared safe
After completing the extensive inspection, authorities confirmed that nothing suspicious had been found inside the legislative complex.
Police subsequently declared the premises safe and allowed normal activities to resume.
During the search operation, security was tightened in and around the area, and officials and staff were asked to remain outside the building until the checks were completed.
Once the all-clear was issued, the gates of the Vidhan Bhavan were reopened and people were allowed to return to their workplaces.
Budget session currently underway
The security scare occurred while the state’s budget session was in progress.
The current session of the Maharashtra Legislature began on February 23 and is scheduled to continue until March 25.
The session is one of the most important legislative periods of the year, during which the state government presents its budget and lawmakers discuss major policy and financial matters.
Traditionally, the winter session of the Maharashtra legislature is held in Nagpur, while the budget session takes place in Mumbai.
Investigation launched
Police said preliminary findings indicate that the bomb threat email was a hoax intended to create panic.
However, officials have launched a detailed investigation to trace the origin of the message and identify the person responsible.
Cyber experts are examining the email records and digital trail to determine where the message was sent from and whether multiple individuals were involved.
Authorities have also warned that strict action will be taken against anyone found responsible for spreading false threats that disrupt public institutions and security operations.
Conclusion
The swift response by security agencies ensured that the bomb threat did not cause any harm and that the legislative complex was thoroughly inspected before normal operations resumed. While the incident has been declared a hoax, the investigation to identify the sender continues.
Officials emphasised that security measures around key government institutions remain on high alert, especially during important events such as legislative sessions.