Mysuru: The Devaraja Police have arrested a 65-year-old former employee of Mangalore Ganesh Beedi Works for allegedly making a hoax bomb threat call to the company’s office on Hunsur Road in Devaraja Mohalla.
The incident occurred on September 17, when the office received an anonymous call threatening that a bomb had been planted behind the premises. The caller reportedly repeated the threat three times, prompting the staff to alert the police.
The Bomb Disposal Squad and Dog Squad were immediately deployed to the premises and conducted a detailed search. No explosives were found, following which police registered a case at Devaraja Police Station.
Former employee traced by police
The investigation eventually led police to Rajesh Pai, 65, a resident of Bhramaramba Layout in Chamarajanagar.
According to police, Pai had previously worked as a peon at Mangalore Ganesh Beedi Works but had subsequently left the company. He is currently working at a hotel.
Police suspect that the former employee made the threatening call out of frustration following his removal from the beedi company’s employment.
Investigators reportedly traced the call to Pai’s mobile phone. During questioning, he allegedly admitted to making the threat and told police that he had made the call “for fun”.
The police investigation is continuing, and further legal action has been initiated against him.
Bomb and dog squads searched office
The threat triggered an immediate security response at the beedi company’s office.
After employees informed the police, specialised teams were sent to the premises to establish whether there was any actual danger.
The Bomb Disposal Squad and Dog Squad searched the office and surrounding areas. The inspection did not reveal any explosive device.
Once the premises were confirmed to be safe, investigators shifted their attention towards identifying the person responsible for making the threat.
The use of a direct phone call eventually helped investigators establish a link to the former employee, according to the police.
Police suspect personal grievance
Police said the incident appears to have originated from a personal grievance rather than an organised threat.
Investigators have found no indication so far of the involvement of any organised group in the incident.
The police suspect that Pai was upset after being removed from his job at the company and made the threatening call as an act of frustration.
Although he allegedly told investigators that the call was made “for fun”, police have treated the incident seriously because bomb threats can trigger major security operations and cause fear among employees and members of the public.
The investigation will establish the circumstances surrounding the call and the applicable legal provisions against the accused.
Incident highlights impact of hoax threats
Even when no explosive device is found, a bomb threat requires authorities to respond as though the threat could be genuine until the premises have been thoroughly checked.
Such incidents can result in the deployment of bomb detection teams, sniffer dogs and other security personnel, while normal activities at the affected location may also be disrupted.
In Mysuru, authorities have dealt with several bomb threat incidents in recent months.
In July, a threat email sent to the Mysuru Principal District and Sessions Judge claimed that multiple explosives had been planted at the court premises. Police and bomb detection teams searched the court complexes and subsequently declared the threat a hoax.
Karnataka has seen rise in hoax threats
The latest incident comes amid a wider increase in hoax bomb threats reported across Karnataka.
Police data presented in the Legislative Council showed that 468 bomb threat calls and emails were reported across the State over a six-year period, with perpetrators identified in only 14 cases at the time of the report.
The threats have targeted a range of locations, including schools, colleges, courts, hotels, temples, airports and railway stations. Security teams have conducted searches after such threats, but the locations were generally found to contain no explosives and the threats were classified as hoaxes.
The repeated incidents have placed additional pressure on police and security agencies, which have to investigate every threat while ensuring public safety.
Police team commended for tracing caller
The operation to identify the caller was carried out under the guidance of Mysuru City Police Commissioner Seema Latkar.
DCP (Law and Order) Dr Harsha Priyamvada and ACP K. Rajendra of the Devaraja Sub-Division supervised the investigation.
Devaraja Police Inspector K.R. Raghu, PSI Anil Kumar and police personnel Manjunath and Y.T. Mahesh were part of the team involved in tracing the caller.
Commissioner Seema Latkar commended the police personnel for identifying the source of the threat and taking action.
The case also demonstrates the role of telephone and digital evidence in tracing individuals responsible for threatening calls.
Conclusion
A 65-year-old former employee of Mangalore Ganesh Beedi Works has been arrested by Devaraja Police for allegedly making a hoax bomb threat to the company’s Hunsur Road office in Mysuru.
The threat on September 17 prompted bomb and dog squads to search the premises, but no explosives were found. Police traced the call to former employee Rajesh Pai and suspect that a personal grievance following his removal from the company may have prompted the incident.
Police have initiated further legal action against the accused as the investigation continues.