The team of DB Marg Police Station has arrested a man who had created panic among security agencies several years ago by making a false threat of a chemical attack on the Prime Minister. The accused has been identified as Kashinath Gunadhar Mandal (29), a resident of Narayanpura village in Dumka district of Jharkhand. He was arrested from Jijamata Nagar in Abhyudaya Nagar area of Kala Chowki in Mumbai.
According to police, the incident dates back to July 27, 2018. At around 5:33 pm, the accused called the National Security Guard (NSG) Control Room in Delhi from his mobile phone and claimed that a chemical attack was going to take place on the Prime Minister.
Following the call, security agencies were immediately put on high alert and an investigation was launched. During the probe, it was revealed that the call was fake and was made with the intention of spreading fear in society. Subsequently, a case was registered against the accused at DB Marg Police Station under sections 505(1), 505(2), and 182 of the Indian Penal Code.
Initially, the accused was arrested by the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) in connection with the case but was later granted bail. However, after securing bail, he failed to appear before the court, following which the court issued a Non-Bailable Warrant (NBW) against him.
Police said that after the warrant was issued, the accused remained absconding for nearly five to six years. During this period, he frequently changed SIM cards and kept shifting his location to evade arrest. A police team had also visited his native village in Jharkhand, but he could not be traced there. Police also alleged that his family members did not cooperate much during the investigation.
During interrogation, the accused told police that he wanted to meet the Prime Minister and had written several letters in the past but did not receive any response. According to police, in an attempt to attract attention and in the hope of meeting the Prime Minister somehow, he made the false threat call.
Police sources further revealed that the accused had previously worked as a security guard and had also taken up small jobs at a mobile shop and a medical store to earn a livelihood.