Bomb threats spark panic in Bombay, Delhi HCs; judges leave courtrooms

A bomb threat spread panic in the high courts of Delhi and Bombay on Friday, leading to suspension of hearings.

The pandemonium followed e-mails through which court administrations received the threat of the attack in the high courts.

Following the email, the high court complexes were evacuated and a search operation was launched, officials said.

According to sources, the registrar general of Delhi HC received the threat e-mail at around 8.39 am and some of the judges were informed about it.

When the judges were conducting proceedings, their court staff came and informed them about the bomb threat e-mail after which they rushed out of the courtrooms.

While some of the judges started rising at around 11.35 am, others kept holding their respective courts till 12 noon.

A bomb disposal squad also reached the high court premises.

Security was beefed up and everyone present in the court premises was asked to vacate.

Police said a PCR call was received in the morning regarding an e-mail claiming the presence of a bomb in the court premises.

"We are carrying out search operations. Fire officials along with the bomb disposal squad and dog squad are present at the spot," a senior police official said.

Several lawyers, court staff and clerks said they have been asked to vacate the premises.

According to the sources, the e-mail said 'as a sample, today's blast in the Delhi high court will clear the doubts of previous bluffs and judges' chambers will detonate shortly after the mid-day Islamic prayers'.

They said the e-mail said three bombs have been placed in judges' rooms/court complex and everyone should vacate the court complex by 2 pm.

Meanwhile, an official said, "The threat email was received on the official email address of the Bombay High Court, which warned of a bomb blast in the building."

After being informed, police personnel rushed to the high court and all the judges, lawyers, staff and visitors were asked to vacate the premises as a precautionary measure, he said.

"The building was evacuated as per the standard operating procedures (SOPs) and a search operation is currently underway with the help of the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS) and a dog squad," the official added.

Various prominent establishments and schools in the city had received similar bomb threats in the recent past, he said, adding that there was no need to panic.