Mumbai: Mumbai witnessed a major security scare on Monday morning after Billabong High School in Santacruz received an email threatening a bomb explosion on the campus. The alarming message led an immediate and large-scale response from city authorities, placing the area on high alert.

According to reports, the school administration promptly informed the Mumbai Police after receiving the threat. Within minutes, teams from the police, the fire brigade, and the bomb detection and disposal squad rushed to the spot. The school premises were swiftly evacuated, ensuring that students, teachers and staff were moved to safety without panic.

Security forces then launched a thorough search of the building and surrounding areas. After an extensive sweep, officials confirmed that no explosive device had been found so far. Despite the relief, the area continues to remain under strict security checks as a precaution.

To ensure complete safety, authorities also evacuated adjacent structures. These included the Aajivasan Studio, owned by renowned singer Suresh Wadkar, and a wedding hall located within the same complex. Both premises, which often see considerable footfall, were emptied and cordoned off while bomb squads scanned every corner for potential threats. The entire locality has since been put under a security blanket, with multiple teams conducting checks and inspecting public access points.

Meanwhile, an email threatening to bomb the school administration of Singapore International School in Mira Road was received today morning at 9:30 am. The school administration immediately informed the police.

Kashimira Police and the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad arrived at the scene. The entire school has been evacuated and a large-scale search operation is underway.

The incidents have renewed concerns about the increasing frequency of hoax and threat emails targeting educational institutions. It comes barely weeks after a similar panic gripped Delhi on November 20, when at least three major schools, Sanskriti School and the British School in Chanakyapuri, and Modern School in Barakhamba, received bomb threat emails.

In those cases as well, police teams immediately conducted extensive inspections, eventually declaring that no suspicious objects had been found. Investigations into the origins of those emails are still underway.

Mumbai: A 51-year-old woman was allegedly sexually assaulted and threatened at gunpoint at a private company’s office in Mahalaxmi on January 17, 2023. The accused, Joy John Pascal Postel, along with five other individuals, allegedly stripped, molested, and threatened her, warning that they would make her videos and photographs viral.

The woman initially filed a complaint with the Pydhonie police station, which was later transferred to the NM Joshi Marg police station. The NM Joshi Marg police registered an FIR on November 22.

According to the FIR, the victim is a businesswoman involved in the photo-frame and gifting business and resides in Mahalaxmi. On January 17, 2023, she received a phone call from Manish Honavar, who asked her to come to the office of M/s Franco Indian Pharmaceuticals Pvt. Ltd., located in Mahalaxmi. When she reached the office, a man allegedly struck her on the shoulder and back with the butt of a revolver.

The accused, Joy John Pascal Postel, then took her into his cabin, forcibly removed her burkha at gunpoint, stripped and molested her, and verbally abused her. He also threatened to record her videos and take photographs, which he said would be made viral on social media by all the accused. 

The woman subsequently filed a complaint with the Pydhonie police station. Following this, the police initiated legal action against six individuals, including Joy John Pascal Postel.

The police have registered a case against the accused under Sections 354A (sexual harassment), 354B (assault or use of criminal force on a woman with intent to disrobe), and 324 (voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means) of the Indian Penal Code, along with relevant sections of the Arms Act and the Information Technology Act.

New Delhi, Nov 29: A special CBI court in Ahmedabad on Saturday sentenced former Senior Divisional Manager of Oriental Insurance Company Limited, Rajkot, Mahendra A. Loonker, to three years of rigorous imprisonment in a 13-year-old bribery case.

The court also imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh on the former official.

According to the CBI press note, the case was registered on July 11, 2012, following a complaint by a partner of a private firm.

Loonker, then serving as Senior Divisional Manager at the insurance company’s Rajkot office, had allegedly demanded a bribe of Rs 15,000 to clear an accident insurance claim submitted by the complainant for an injured employee.

“CBI registered the instant case on July 11, 2012 against the accused person on allegations that accused Mahendra A Loonker, the then Sr. DM, Oriental Insurance Co. Ltd., Rajkot had demanded and accepted an illegal gratification of Rs 15,000 from the complainant, Partner of a private company in order to pass the Accident Insurance Claim filed by him regarding the accident and injury of his employee,” the CBI said.

CBI officials arrested Loonker the same day the FIR was filed, after he was found to have accepted the bribe.

Subsequent searches were carried out at his residence and office premises in Rajkot. Investigators later filed a chargesheet on December 3, 2012, against the accused for demanding and accepting illegal gratification and criminal misconduct committed by the accused public servant.

After examining the evidence and hearing arguments from both sides, the court held Loonker guilty and convicted him accordingly.

Meanwhile, the CBI Court in Vijayawada on Friday sentenced a former Railway official to one year of imprisonment in a nearly two-decade-old bribery case.

The court convicted Matta Dharma Rao, who was serving as Assistant Divisional Engineer with South Central Railway in Bhimavaram, West Godavari district, for demanding and accepting illegal gratification from a contractor.