Man Behind Hoax Bomb Threats Sent 100 Emails to PMO Seeking to Publish Terrorism Book

In the 13 days leading up to October 26, over 300 flights operated by Indian airlines received hoax bomb threats. Notably, on October 22, around 50 flights, including 13 each from IndiGo and Air India, were targeted.

A 35-year-old man named Jagdish Uikey from Gondia district in Maharashtra has been arrested by Nagpur police in connection with these threats. Uikey allegedly sent a total of 354 hoax emails to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), various government officials, and transportation services.

Since January, he had sent nearly 100 emails to the PMO seeking promotion for his book, titled Aaatankwad - Ek Tufaani Rakshas, which discusses terrorism. Frustrated by the lack of response, he reportedly began sending hoax threat emails.

Officials noted that Uikey's book contains theories about terrorism and is available online. In a previous incident in 2021, he was arrested for making a false bomb threat call but was released shortly thereafter. After his release, he moved from Arjuni Morgaon and informed friends that he relocated to Delhi.

Uikey had previously sent "objectionable emails" and had raised complaints about job aspirants close to the PMO. As the investigation unfolds, authorities have found that his recent emails hint at potential sleeper cell activities in India, with threats appearing to originate from U.S. sources.

Investigators, led by Deputy Commissioner of Police Shweta Khedkar, have observed a pattern in Uikey's communications, particularly noting emails sent to Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in October. In one of these emails, he claimed to have knowledge of a "secret terror code." The police are closely monitoring his email patterns as part of their ongoing investigation.