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Fake Email Kingpin Linked to Mumbai Bomb Hoax
14 Nov
Summary
- Ankit Shankhwar arrested for creating and selling fake email accounts.
- Email IDs supplied by Shankhwar used for bomb-hoax threats in Mumbai.
- Shankhwar received approximately $50,000 from Turkey and Egypt.
Ankit Shankhwar, arrested on October 28, is allegedly responsible for creating and supplying fake email accounts used to send bomb-hoax threats to several prominent Mumbai establishments on November 12. The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad (UP ATS) claims Shankhwar, 24, sold these accounts to a Bangladeshi national, Amin.
These email IDs were purportedly used to target locations including the BMC headquarters, the Mumbai Mayor's office, the international airport, and Amitabh Bachchan's bungalow. Investigations reveal Shankhwar received approximately $50,000 from sources in Turkey and Egypt for his services.
The UP ATS is also investigating Shankhwar's potential connection to other recent threat emails, including those targeting a singer's concert in Madhya Pradesh and a court complex in Gwalior. His arrest followed an intelligence-led probe into suspicious email IDs threatening schools and public figures.
During interrogation, Shankhwar admitted to creating fake email IDs since 2021 using Wi-Fi and proxy networks under fictitious identities. He reportedly received payments in cryptocurrency. Another recovered email ID was used to send a bomb threat to the Mumbai Mayor's Office on October 23.
