September 12, 2025 – The Delhi High Court and Bombay High Court were evacuated on Friday after receiving bomb threats via email. Security agencies later confirmed the threats to be hoaxes, but police have launched an investigation into what they suspect is the work of a repeat offender who has been issuing similar threats across multiple locations in recent months.
According to officials, the Delhi High Court received an email in the morning claiming that three improvised explosive devices (IEDs) had been planted inside the court premises, including one near a judge’s chamber. The message warned of a blast scheduled to occur after midday prayers. Court staff, lawyers and litigants were immediately evacuated, and bomb detection and disposal squads, along with dog squads, conducted a thorough search of the complex. No suspicious items were found.
Hours later, the Bombay High Court reported receiving a similar email threat. Proceedings were suspended and the building was cleared as security teams carried out checks. As in Delhi, the search yielded no explosives, leading authorities to declare the threat a hoax.
Police officials stated that the pattern of these messages points toward a possible serial offender. Investigators have linked the latest threats to a series of hoax emails sent to public institutions and private establishments in Mumbai and other cities over the past few months. The emails often reference RDX or IEDs, mention political figures, and are typically sent through masked servers using VPNs, making it difficult to trace the sender’s identity.
Sources revealed that Outlook email accounts have been used in several of these incidents, suggesting a consistent modus operandi. Investigators believe the sender may be operating from outside India or using foreign-based servers to avoid detection. Cyber forensic teams are working to track the digital footprint of the messages.
The repeated nature of these hoaxes has raised concern among security agencies, as each incident forces large-scale evacuations and disrupts critical judicial work. On Friday, numerous hearings in both the Delhi and Bombay High Courts were postponed, causing delays in case proceedings.
Officials emphasised that while the threats were false, they cannot afford to take any risks given the sensitive nature of court complexes. “Every threat must be treated as credible until proven otherwise,” a senior police officer said. “Evacuation and search protocols are standard operating procedures in such cases.”
The Ministry of Home Affairs has been briefed on the incidents, and coordination between Delhi Police, Mumbai Police, and central cyber agencies is underway. Authorities are exploring measures to strengthen email monitoring systems and improve rapid verification mechanisms to reduce disruption caused by such hoaxes.
Friday’s incidents highlight the growing challenge posed by digitally driven threats. While no explosives were found, the disruptions underline vulnerabilities in institutional security and the need for enhanced cyber forensics to counter evolving tactics used by offenders. Investigators remain focused on identifying and apprehending the suspect believed to be behind the spate of threats targeting India’s judicial institutions.
