Gujarat: Hansol trader held for GujSAIL bomb threat email

Ahmedabad: More than six weeks after a bomb threat email triggered panic at Gujarat State Aviation Infrastructure Company Ltd (GujSAIL) and prompted intensive security checks at Ahmedabad airport premises, the Cyber Crime Branch has arrested a 40-year-old Hansol businessman for allegedly sending the threatening message, officers said on Monday.

The accused, Bhavesh Patel, a resident of New Pushpak Society in Hansol, was arrested after investigators traced the email account used to send the threatening mail received by GujSAIL director on March 25. Patel runs a construction business, police said.

According to the Cyber Crime Branch, the email warned of bomb blasts at GujSAIL and schools, while also referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah. The message read: “Gujcel blast eid ka tofa modi and shah I will kill you Bomb blast in all schools mera bhai saurab biswas ko rihae karo wait and watch all boom blast. (sic.)”

The threatening email had sparked a major security alert. Senior officials and security agencies were informed immediately, while bomb detection and disposal squads along with dog squads carried out searches at the airport terminal and related premises. No suspicious object was found.

A complaint was subsequently registered with Cyber Crime police, and an investigation was launched under the supervision of senior officers. Police inspector M H Bhetariya and his team sought technical details of the email ID allegedly used in the offence.

Through technical surveillance and human intelligence inputs, investigators zeroed in on Patel’s location in Ahmedabad city. He was later detained and questioned before being arrested.

Police said the mobile phone seized from Patel allegedly had access to the email account used in the crime, and contained the threatening message sent to GujSAIL authorities.

A senior Cyber Crime Branch officer said Patel’s motive remains unclear and investigators are probing multiple angles. During questioning, police learned that Patel had earlier visited the GujSAIL office for work related to an event where one of his woman friends was an event manager.

Police began verifying whether any dispute linked to the woman or the event assignment may have triggered the threatening mail. Police have sought Patel’s remand to investigate whether anyone else assisted him and to verify if he had links with any terror outfit or organized anti-national network.