Delhi HC receives bomb threat via e-mail; judges rise from dais

A bomb threat emailed to the Delhi High Court on Friday caused panic, prompting judges to vacate courtrooms and halt proceedings. The threat was received at 8:39 am, and security has since been heightened with a full evacuation of the premises

New Delhi:  A bomb threat spread panic in the Delhi High Court for litigants and judges alike, prompting the latter to rise abruptly. The pandemonium followed an e-mail through which the court administration received the threat of the attack in the high court.

This prompted the police and other agencies to launch a search operation.

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According to sources, the e-mail was received by the registrar general 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.