Mumbai, Aug 13 (IANS) A 55-year-old man, who was to board a flight to Delhi from Mumbai airport, was detained by police after he jokingly remarked about a “bomb” in his bag but was later released with a warning, officials said on Thursday.
The incident took place on Sunday, following which authorities were forced to temporarily hold back the Mumbai-Delhi IndiGo flight just before takeoff from the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport.
According to officials, at the boarding gate of Terminal 2 of the airport, the passenger bound for Delhi made an alarming claim about having a “bomb” in his bag during the security check, prompting the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel at the spot to detain him.
The passenger was then handed over to the Sahar police. Upon his detention and questioning, the accused claimed he had spoken in jest. However, police investigation into the incident is underway.
As per an official statement, airline Assistant Security Manager Omprakash Rajbhar and Security Officer Ravindra Rokde were conducting routine checks of passengers’ hand luggage at the airport’s boarding gate. As per standard procedure, when officials asked if the bag contained prohibited items such as matches, lighters, scissors, or liquids, the passenger, identified as 55-year-old Anuj Jayram Suvarna, casually remarked that there was a “bomb” in his bag.
Upon hearing the word “bomb,” airline staff immediately alerted their superiors and the CISF personnel, who acted swiftly without delay. The accused passenger was removed from the flight and taken into custody.
The CISF handed over Suvarna to the Sahar police for further legal action, on the complaint filed by the security officers. The police registered a case and arrested the accused, though he was later released after being issued a warning notice.
Officials stated that the accused’s alarming prank caused panic among passengers, disrupted flight operations for several hours, and resulted in significant financial and mental distress for the airline.
Further, in accordance with security protocols, the entire aircraft was evacuated, and all passengers were deplaned. The CISF and the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS) meticulously inspected the aircraft, cargo, and passengers’ luggage.
After several hours of intensive searching, when nothing suspicious was found, the flight finally departed for Delhi after the completion of all security checks.
–IANS
cg/
