A 47-year-old man from Mysuru in Karnataka has been arrested by the Delhi Police for allegedly sending more than 1,000 hoax bomb threat messages to institutions across India, triggering repeated security alerts, evacuations and widespread disruption.
The accused, identified as Srinivas Louis, was apprehended from his rented accommodation in Mysuru during a joint operation carried out by Delhi Police along with local police teams. Officials said the arrest followed a detailed investigation supported by technical surveillance that helped trace the origin of the threatening messages.
According to police, Louis is suspected of sending bomb threat emails and messages to a wide range of institutions, including courts, schools, colleges, government offices, railway stations, and airports across the country. Several prominent establishments, including the Delhi High Court, the Delhi Assembly, and multiple educational institutions, received the threats over recent weeks.
Authorities confirmed that all the threats were eventually found to be hoaxes.
Panic and Security Disruptions Across Institutions
Officials said the repeated threats forced authorities to activate emergency protocols at several locations, leading to evacuations, heightened security checks, and disruptions to routine operations.
In one instance, a judge of the Delhi High Court reportedly lodged a formal complaint after receiving a threat email. Investigators believe the accused deliberately targeted prominent institutions to maximise panic and public anxiety.
Police said the accused allegedly sent the messages through emails and other communication channels. During preliminary interrogation, he is said to have confessed to sending more than 1,100 threat messages across the country.
Several FIRs related to the threats have been registered in different states as investigators continue to map the full extent of the messages sent.
Digital Evidence Recovered
During the operation, police seized several SIM cards and a laptop from Louis’s residence. Officials said digital evidence recovered from these devices is currently being examined to trace the communication trail and confirm the scale of the activity.
Louis, a postgraduate and native of Bengaluru, is currently unemployed and was living with his mother, a retired government employee. Preliminary findings suggest he may have been experiencing mental distress, though authorities emphasised that the exact motive will be determined only after detailed interrogation.
Following his arrest, the accused was produced before a local court in Mysuru and taken into custody. He is now being brought to Delhi for further questioning.
Growing Concern Over Hoax Threats
Officials noted that hoax bomb threats have become increasingly frequent in recent months, placing a significant strain on security agencies and emergency services.
Schools across the country received around 600 to 700 hoax bomb threats between March 2025 and March 2026, with Delhi-NCR alone accounting for more than 500 of them. The incidents peaked in September 2025 when over 300 schools in Delhi received threats in a single day, while another surge was recorded in December 2025 with more than 40 cases.
Similar threats have also been reported in other cities. More than 40 cases were recorded in Bengaluru, around 65 in Jaipur, more than six in Mumbai, and over 50 in areas such as Noida between January and February 2026.
Investigators are now working with agencies across states to identify all institutions that received the threats and determine whether Louis acted alone or had accomplices. Delhi Police said further investigation into the case is ongoing.
