Maharashtra, 29 October 2024: Nagpur police have identified a 35-year-old man from Gondia, Maharashtra, as the suspect behind a series of hoax bomb threats that disrupted flights, heightened security at airports, and alarmed officials across the state. The individual, identified as Jagdish Uikey, is a self-proclaimed author on terrorism and was previously arrested in 2021 for another case, a senior official confirmed.
“Uikey is currently evading arrest after investigators traced the hoax emails back to him,” a police official said, noting that the Nagpur city police’s special branch linked him to the series of threats through a thorough investigation. Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Shweta Khedkar led the probe, which revealed Uikey’s emails were sent to several high-profile government offices.
Among the recipients of Uikey’s emails were the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, the state’s Director General of Police (DGP), the Railway Protection Force (RPF), and multiple airlines.
In one recent email sent to Railway Minister Vaishnaw on October 21—also forwarded to the DGP and RPF—Uikey made threats related to railway stations, prompting heightened security at these locations. On October 22, around 50 flights, including those operated by IndiGo and Air India, received bomb threats, causing widespread concern.
Security was also increased outside Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis’s residence in Nagpur after Uikey sent an email threatening to protest unless he was allowed to disclose his alleged insights on a “secret terror code.”
In his messages, Uikey insisted on meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss his claimed knowledge of terror threats.
In just 13 days leading up to October 26, over 300 flights operated by Indian carriers received hoax bomb threats, primarily through social media, according to government agencies. Authorities have since formed a special team to track down and arrest Uikey, with officials stating he is likely to be apprehended soon.
