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Noida Astrologer Arrested for Fake Mumbai Terror Threat Involving 14 Terrorists and 400 kg RDX (Police Say It Was to Frame a Rival)

The shadow of past attacks still haunts Mumbai’s crowded streets, where even a whisper about explosives can bring the city to a full stop. Just before the festival crowds gathered this September, a message lit up the Mumbai Police WhatsApp helpline: 14 terrorists with 400 kilos of RDX, ready to strike, all hidden in 34 vehicles. In minutes, an ordinary WhatsApp alert threw the financial capital into full alert mode.

But the chaos that followed did not come from the streets. It began in a high-rise flat in Noida, penned by a 51-year-old astrologer with a personal grudge. What started as a bid to settle a score became a wave of panic that rattled police, triggered strict security checks, and shook millions. False alarms don’t just waste precious resources—they disturb lives, stir old memories, and remind everyone how fragile peace can be.

You can watch related coverage here: Mumbai Bomb Threat: Man Who Warned Of 400 kg RDX Blasts Nabbed In Noida | India Today News

The Hoax That Shook Mumbai

Mumbai woke up to chaos on what should have been an ordinary day. The city, used to the familiar hum of busy roads and festival anticipation, suddenly found itself in the grip of fear. It all began with a single WhatsApp message that seemed impossible to ignore. Everything changed in a matter of minutes.

The Message That Triggered Panic

The threat wasn’t hidden in shadows or whispered in back alleys. It came as a WhatsApp message delivered right to the Mumbai Police helpline. The text was jarring:

• 14 terrorists had entered Mumbai.
• 400 kilograms of RDX explosive were ready to use.
• 34 vehicles were supposedly prepped for coordinated bombings.
• The sender insisted that the attack would match the horror of Mumbai’s darkest days.

Police read the message as the city prepared for Ganesh Visarjan, one of its most packed and joyous festivals. There was no room for doubt; anything less than a full response could cost lives.

How Authorities Responded at First

Mumbai Police swung into action with speed that matched the size of the threat. Within minutes:

• Control rooms became hives of constant chatter.
• Dozens of patrol cars hit the roads.
• Officers set up emergency barricades at entry points and sensitive locations across the city.
• Trains, bus depots, religious spots, and markets faced instant security checks.

Every call, every tip, every suspicious bag was checked. The usually bustling city felt a notch tenser, with police sirens echoing into crowded neighborhoods. Even amid the noise and rush, the fear was palpable—like a tight knot that wouldn’t loosen.

What Made the Threat Seem Believable

No detail was missing in the warning. The claim came with specifics—exact numbers, types of threats, locations, and a credible sense of danger. In a city that has faced real attacks before, it all felt too familiar. RDX, a dangerous explosive, has been used in past terror incidents. The mention of “14 terrorists” and “34 vehicles” seemed deliberate, meant to echo the city’s most haunting memories.

To give you an idea of what authorities faced, here’s a quick look at the threat’s claims versus reality:

You can read more about the police’s rapid response and the exact wording of the hoax in Mumbai Police get threat claiming 34 vehicles ready with ‘human bombs’ and 14 Pakistani terrorists.

City on Edge and Resources Stretched

For hours, Mumbai turned into a city on edge. Security personnel scanned the skies, railway stations, and even city sewers. The search for 34 vehicles became a city-wide puzzle, with authorities not willing to risk even a hint of carelessness. By late afternoon, the city had spent hundreds of man-hours, thousands of liters of fuel, and a mountain of official paperwork—all triggered by a single, false message.

For the men and women in uniform, there was no time for doubt. Families in Mumbai faced delays and detours, shopkeepers kept a wary eye on strangers, and commuters watched every action around them. Trust was shaken, and the line between real and fake vanished overnight.

The Scale Sinks In

This wasn’t just a prank or an empty threat. It forced Mumbai—the city that never sleeps—to grind nearly to a halt. Every corner seemed under the microscope. The hoax tested emergency systems, exposed gaps, and showed how a simple message could remake an entire city’s heartbeat.

If you want to see how intense the mobilization was, references and full coverage are available at NDTV’s detailed report on the Mumbai bomb threat hoax.

When the dust finally started to settle, one thing was clear: even the hint of terror can spread fear across millions, freeze city streets, and make law enforcement sprint into action.

Who Is the Noida Astrologer?

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Behind the string of panic alerts and frantic police checks in Mumbai stands Ashwani Kumar, a 51-year-old astrologer and vastu expert. Originally from Patna, Bihar, Kumar set up life in Noida’s Sector 79, one of its busy, growing neighborhoods. He built his livelihood by offering astrology and vastu consults, filling his calendar with regulars who came for advice and clarity. To most in his apartment building, he was quiet, polite, and focused on his small local business. Nothing suggested ties to crime or mischief—until the Mumbai police traced a hoax bomb threat to his door.

Kumar’s world of predictions and personal feuds collided in a single WhatsApp message that rattled a city. The arrest stunned neighbors, many of whom had never seen him angry, let alone capable of sparking citywide emergency protocols. What led this seemingly ordinary Noida resident to orchestrate one of the biggest terror hoaxes in recent memory?

The Rivalry and Motive: Dive into the personal grudge behind the hoax

This wasn’t an act of terror or a bid for attention from ideologues. Instead, it was personal. Investigators found that Ashwani Kumar was driven by a bitter grudge against a former friend and rival. Kumar admitted that he used his friend’s name when sending the threat, aiming to frame him for a crime he never committed.

The feud ran deep. In 2023, the rival had filed a legal case against Kumar in Patna, leading to Kumar spending three months in jail. The humiliation and anger from that episode bubbled under the surface. Kumar’s attempt to get even went beyond angry words or civil complaint. Instead, he crafted a detailed hoax that would pin a terror plot on his adversary, upending his rival’s life in the worst possible way.

His plan read like a dramatic page from a movie script:

• He composed a message with chilling details: “14 terrorists, 400 kg RDX, 34 vehicles.”
• He sent the threat to the Mumbai Police traffic WhatsApp helpline, using SIM cards registered with false names and IDs.
• The message landed days before a major festival, maximizing fear and chaos.

How did police uncover the truth? Mumbai and Noida authorities worked together, scanning mobile data, SIM records, CCTV footage, and vendor logs. Kumar’s apartment was searched, and numerous phones and SIM cards were seized. His confession revealed not the mindset of a criminal mastermind, but a man willing to risk mass panic just to destroy a foe.

To learn more about the police work and arrest, see ‘14 terrorists, 400 kg RDX’: Astrologer held from Noida for making a bomb threat to Mumbai and the full breakdown in NDTV’s exclusive report.

Key details of the rivalry’s fallout:

Kumar’s story is a stark reminder: not all chaos comes from grand conspiracies. Sometimes, it’s one person’s personal score, disguised as a citywide threat, that pulls communities, police, and entire cities into crisis. For more on this breaking case and what it revealed about human motives, visit The Tribune’s detailed summary.

Mumbai Police in Action: Swift Response and Inter-Agency Coordination

When the chilling WhatsApp message reached the Mumbai Police claiming 14 terrorists armed with 400 kg of RDX explosives were poised to attack, the response was immediate and relentless. The city’s police force sprung into action with precision and urgency, fully aware that even the threat of terror demanded maximum vigilance.

Immediate Mobilization and Public Alert

Within moments of receiving the message, traffic police and counter-terror units were dispatched to high-risk areas. Mumbai streets, normally buzzing with energy during festival seasons, suddenly fell under a tight security grip. Barricades rose swiftly around crowded zones like the Gateway of India, local train stations, and bus terminals. Officers conducted thorough vehicle checks and bag inspections, turning every streetcorner into a checkpoint.

Citizens, alarmed by widespread police presence and sirens, reacted with a mix of anxiety and cautious compliance. The fear of a repeat of past attacks gripped the nerves of millions, as festival crowds slowed and cars crawled through barricades. The police urged calm while stepping up their patrols, ensuring no stone was left unturned.

Seamless Coordination Between Mumbai and UP Police

This was not a challenge Mumbai Police faced alone. Early investigation suggested the origin of the threat message was outside the city—Noida, Uttar Pradesh. The Mumbai Police immediately coordinated with UP Police and intelligence units to trace the man behind the hoax.

Joint task forces combined their technical expertise to scan mobile records, SMS logs, and social media. Using digital forensics and ground-level intelligence, they mapped the suspect’s movements and SIM card usage. This partnership highlighted the importance of multi-jurisdictional cooperation in fighting modern threats, especially when crime crosses state lines.

Ashwani Kumar, the accused astrologer from Noida, was arrested swiftly after a coordinated raid on his residence. Mumbai Police credited this partnership for their ability to apprehend the suspect before panic could escalate further.

High-Pressure Search and Investigation Highlights

The search for clues and suspects over the tense hours brought several intense moments:

• Multiple control rooms in Mumbai coordinated in real-time, analyzing inputs from CCTV cameras, field officers, and informants sent to scout suspicious vehicles.
• Teams combed through thousands of vehicles near festival spots, using bomb detection squads to examine any alerts.
• Mumbai’s cybercrime cell worked round the clock alongside UP counterparts to peel back data layers, confirming the message’s origin and dismantling false trails planted by the hoax.
• Officers prioritized sensitive locations like hospitals, temples, and public transport hubs, knowing the timing of the threat coincided with Ganesh Visarjan, when millions gather on Mumbai’s waterfronts.

This intense period proved how police forces could rise under pressure to meet a threat that wasn’t real but felt very real to the city’s heartbeat. It showed that coordination, technology, and old-school foot patrols still form the backbone of public safety.

The combined efforts of Mumbai and UP police not only stopped a potential stampede of fear but also swiftly turned a crisis into a successful investigation—highlighting the relentless dedication that keeps India’s cities safe even in times of alarm.

For more details on the arrest and police response, refer to The Hindu’s report on Mumbai terror threat arrest and NDTV’s coverage of the case.

The Cost of Spreading Fear

False bomb threats are far more than empty words on a screen or an impulsive act meant to upset someone. They ripple out across cities, stirring panic and draining vital resources that could save lives in real emergencies. When a fabricated message claims terrorists with 400 kilograms of RDX are gearing up to attack Mumbai, it isn’t just a line of text—it becomes a weight on millions of shoulders.

The hoax by a Noida astrologer exemplifies how personal grudges can spill over into public chaos. But its reach went well beyond a single grudge—it shook public trust, stretched emergency responders thin, and reminded everyone how fragile security really is.

Wasting Precious Time and Resources

Security forces aren’t just pulling an all-nighter out of habit; they are responding to what looks like an imminent threat. Every bomb threat call triggers:

• Dispatch of hundreds of police officers to check vehicles, stations, and crowd hotspots.
• Deployment of bomb disposal squads trained for high-risk scenarios.
• Hours monitoring CCTV feeds and analyzing digital footprints.
• Public warnings and traffic diversions, causing delays and frustration.

All these efforts come at a cost: time, manpower, fuel, and money. For Mumbai, a city with a police force already stretched during festivals, such false alarms put real lives in danger if a genuine incident happens when resources are tied up. Handling a single fake threat like this can easily consume thousands of man-hours and swift coordination across agencies, leaving no room for error elsewhere.

Panic That Paralyzes Communities

Fear isn’t just felt by the police. The city’s millions live it too:

• Commuters get trapped behind barricades or face long detours.
• Festival celebrations slow down or get canceled.
• Businesses see customers vanish in a heartbeat.
• Families worry if they can safely reach home.

Terror threat messages tap into deep-rooted anxiety, like shaking a beehive and waiting for the angry buzz to spread. The mental toll can stick long after the messages are exposed as lies, breaking the fragile calm city dwellers count on.

Eroding Public Trust and Confidence

Repeated hoaxes chip away at the relationship between citizens and authorities. After a few false alarms, people begin to question the credibility of warnings and emergency responses. That skepticism can turn dangerous when a real threat arises.

Trust is the glue that holds a city’s safety network together. Without it, cooperation dwindles and vigilance fades. In Mumbai, with a memory scarred by past attacks, every false claim opens old wounds and sows doubt.

Legal Consequences and Punishments

India does not take fake bomb threats lightly. Laws under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 505(1)(b) and 506(ii), which cover statements intended to cause fear or alarm and criminal intimidation, are typically applied. Additionally, the Explosive Substances Act, 1908 addresses threats related to explosives and assigns strict penalties.

Depending on the severity and impact, offenders may face:

• Imprisonment up to 3 years or more.
• Fines and legal notices.
• Charges can escalate if the false threat causes public disorder, panic, or leads to economic loss.

The law aims to deter anyone thinking short-term revenge or prank calls will go unanswered. You can find detailed information on these legal provisions at Republic World’s explanation of hoax bomb threat penalties

False bomb threats are not just harmless jokes—they spin out into real terror for millions. When fear spreads like wildfire based on lies, everyone loses. Police, communities, and innocent bystanders all pay the price. The hoax from Noida is a clear warning: a single message can cost a city its peace.

Conclusion

False terror alerts like the one sparked by the Noida astrologer cause real damage far beyond wasted police hours. In a city still marked by past tragedies, such hoaxes unsettle millions and put lives at risk. They drain resources that are crucial in genuine emergencies and chip away at the trust between citizens and law enforcement.

Safety depends on everyone staying vigilant yet calm when threats arise. Spreading false alarms only makes it harder for police to do their job and keeps communities locked in fear. The Mumbai incident reminds us that responsible actions and shared trust are essential to protect the cities we call home.