Delhi Police have arrested a 47-year-old man from Karnataka’s Mysore state, on charges of sending more than 1,100 false threatening messages targeting schools, high courts and government offices across India. According to the police, the accused Srinivas Lewis is possibly suffering from a mental disorder and has confessed to sending the mails.
However, the police said that the exact reason behind sending those messages will be ascertained after the accused is brought to Delhi and a detailed investigation is conducted.
The arrest comes after Delhi Police launched a coordinated operation with local police teams. In recent weeks, the Delhi High Court, Parliament, and several educational and government institutes have received bomb threats. Police officials said that these threats led to tightening security measures and disrupting the work of institutions.
On Thursday, police arrested Srinivas Lewis from his rented house in Karnataka, HT reported. Lewis, a postgraduate and Bengaluru native, is currently unemployed and lives with his mother, a retired government employee.
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Police suggest mental disorder
According to officials, preliminary investigations indicate that the accused may be suffering from a mental disorder. Officials also noted that he deliberately targeted prominent institutions across the country in order to “maximize panic.”
During the preliminary investigation, the accused allegedly admitted to sending more than 1,100 threatening messages. Police said the messages were sent through emails and other communication channels.
The letters led to FIRs in different states, and the suspect was identified after investigation, following which the team went to Mysore to arrest him.
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The police also recovered a laptop and multiple SIM cards from the accused during the search, a senior official said. The authorities are examining the full range of messages sent.
The accused was produced before a Mysuru court and was later detained. The officials added that the authorities are working to identify all the sites targeted by the threats and are coordinating with law enforcement agencies across multiple states.
