Tamil Nadu cops arrest suspect in years-long bomb threat investigation
The Tamil Nadu Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has arrested a software engineer accused of sending more than 1,500 hoax bomb threat emails over a three-year period, bringing to an end a prolonged investigation that repeatedly triggered security alerts across India.
The accused, identified as Sarath Subramanian Shankar, originally from Ambasamudram in Tirunelveli district, was detained by immigration officials after arriving at Chennai airport on an Etihad Airways flight from abroad. He had been residing in Austin, Texas, where he worked for a software company.
Investigators said the breakthrough came after the suspect mistakenly responded to one of the threatening emails using his personal email account. That error enabled cyber investigators to establish his identity despite his alleged use of encrypted communication platforms, virtual private networks and dark web infrastructure designed to conceal his online activity.
The investigation was led by Superintendent of Police I. Shanaz during her tenure with the Tamil Nadu Cyber Crime Wing. Following his arrival, an ATS team headed by Additional Superintendent of Police Purushothaman and Deputy Superintendent of Police Reboni took the suspect into custody for questioning.
According to officials, Sarath is linked to more than 100 criminal cases registered across Tamil Nadu. The alleged targets of the threat emails included commercial airlines, educational institutions such as Anna University, politicians, senior police officers, retired Intelligence Bureau officials and other prominent individuals.
Police said the anonymous emails forced authorities to conduct repeated security checks at airports, schools and public institutions between 2023 and 2025, though every threat ultimately proved to be false.
The ATS has directly registered 33 cases, while numerous additional complaints have been filed by city police, the Cyber Crime Wing and other law enforcement agencies across the state.
Following interrogation, the accused was handed over to Fort Police Station and remanded to judicial custody.