Man behind hoax bomb threat to Raj Bhavan did it 'out of curiosity': Bengaluru Police

Bengaluru: A 34-year-old man, arrested on Tuesday for making a bomb threat to the Raj Bhavan, had “closely followed” news of the hoax bomb threat made to Bengaluru schools earlier this month.

Police investigations revealed that the man, Bhaskar S, was curious about what would happen if he were make a bomb threat to the Raj Bhavan.

On Tuesday, Bengaluru police arrested Bhaskar, a native of Mulbagal in Kolar district, from Chittoor, a day after he allegedly made a phone call to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) control room in Domlur, claiming that a bomb has been placed in the Raj Bhavan.

A commerce graduate, Bhaskar has been assisting his father in farming. Bhaskar visited Bengaluru for the first time on December 11 after getting permission from his father. Walking down the Ambedkar Veedhi, he was awestruck to see the majestic Vidhana Soudha building.

Bhaskar walked towards the Raj Bhavan and was curious what would happen if someone were to make a bomb threat claim. He had closely followed the recent incident of the hoax bomb threat made to schools in Bengaluru and that impacted him.

‘Impulsive madness’

In a moment of “impulsive madness”, Bhaskar pulled out his mobile phone, googled NIA’s control room number, and ranted out a bomb threat in Kannada, a police officer official close to the investigation said.

Having made the phone call, Bhaskar boarded a bus to a temple in Andhra Pradesh, where he was eventually traced. Bhaskar was unaware of the consequences of making such a bomb threat and did not have any apparent motive.

Police believe Bhaskar’s action was not premeditated, but are still interrogating him.

The Vidhana Soudha police have booked him under IPC sections 507 (criminal intimidation by anonymous communication) and 505 (1) (whoever makes, publishes or circulates any statement, rumour or report).