Mumbai: Security agencies and the Mumbai police were placed on high alert after an email sent to Mayor Ritu Tawde's office on Friday threatened bomb blasts at her office, actor Amitabh Bachchan's home and the venue of singer Diljit Dosanjh's concert.
The email reached the mayor's office at 11.30 am. It was also marked to Deputy Mayor Sanjay Ghadi. It claimed a blast would take place in the mayor's office at the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation headquarters at 3.11 pm. The premises were searched, and nothing suspicious was found.
According to police, the mail warned of a grenade attack on a school on October 31 and threatened to target Bachchan's Juhu home 'Jalsa' between October 31 and November 27. It also claimed there would be an attack during Dosanjh's November 27 concert in the Mahalaxmi Racecourse area.
The email, which made references to "Khalistan", claimed to represent the Khalistan National Army, and the sender identified himself as Smith Johnson. Police are verifying whether the claims are genuine.
Law enforcement authorities have launched an investigation to verify the authenticity of the message, trace its origin and identify the sender. As a precaution, instructions have been issued to significantly step up security and surveillance at the mayor's office, the Mahalaxmi Racecourse, prominent educational institutions and all other places mentioned in the email.
"A threat email was received at the BMC office; checking has been done and nothing suspicious was found," said Manish Kalwaniya, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Zone 1. Police suspect the same group could be behind hoax mails sent in past months. They have urged people not to panic.