Mumbai bomb threat traced to Noida: 50-year-old astrologer arrested after “human bombs” warning

The Mumbai Crime Branch arrested Ashwin Kumar Supra, a 50-year-old man from Noida, in connection with a bomb threat sent during the city’s Ganesh Visarjan festival on Sep 6. The threat had been received via WhatsApp by Mumbai Traffic Control authorities.

The message claimed that 34 human bombs had been planted in 34 vehicles across Mumbai, involved 400 kg of RDX, and that 14 Pakistani terrorists from the group "Lashkar-e-Jihadi" had entered the city. Authorities considered the threat serious given the high-profile festival underway.

In response, Mumbai Police tightened city-wide security, deploying over 21,000 personnel to monitor the Ganesh Visarjan processions and sensitive locations. The authorities escalated vigilance ahead of the anticipated large crowds.

Using technical analysis of the SIM card and phone linked to the threat, law enforcement traced the source to Noida. Mumbai's Crime Branch coordinated with Noida Police for the arrest where the accused was apprehended and is being transferred to Mumbai for further interrogation.

Preliminary investigations have revealed that the accused, Kumar, is originally from Patliputra, Patna. He has been residing in Noida’s Sector 79 with his parents for the past five years. His father, Suresh Kumar, is a retired education official, and his mother, Prabhawati, is a homemaker.

According to police sources, Kumar has had a troubled personal history, including an estrangement from his wife, Archana, and financial disputes.

In 2023, he spent three months in jail after his friend, named Firoz, filed a case against him in Patna. Investigators believe Ashwini sent the bomb threat using Firoz’s identity to implicate him in a terror case.

The threat message received just before the final day of the Ganesh Visarjan festival triggered a massive security operation. Mumbai Police heightened surveillance across the city, deploying over 21,000 personnel, including bomb squads and traffic units, to monitor processions and public areas.