Mumbai terror threat: Astrologer sent fake message to frame friend who once put him behind bars

Accused Ashwini Kumar

A 51-year-old astrologer was arrested by the Mumbai Police from Noida in the early hours of Saturday after he allegedly sent a threatening WhatsApp message warning of a massive terror attack in Mumbai.

Police officials revealed that the accused, Ashwini Kumar, did not send the message with the intention of carrying out an actual terror attack, but instead to falsely implicate his friend, Firoz, The Indian Express reported.

According to officials, Ashwini and Firoz had a history of personal enmity. In 2023, Ashwini had been jailed for three months after Firoz filed a case against him at the Phulwari Sharif police station in Patna. Seeking revenge, Ashwini allegedly crafted the threatening message in Firoz’s name, hoping to frame him in a serious terror-related case.

Ashwini is a resident of Patliputra Colony in Patna. Police said he had been staying in Noida’s Sector 79 with his parents since 2020.

The arrest was made following an FIR registered against him after the Mumbai Traffic Police received a disturbing WhatsApp message on their official number. The message claimed that 34 “human bombs” had been planted in different vehicles across Mumbai and that 14 Pakistani terrorists had already entered India. It further stated that 400 kg of RDX would be used in the attack and that the explosions would “shake the entire city.”

The message also mentioned the involvement of an outfit named “Lashkar-e-Jihadi.” Given that the threat came just before the Ganesh Visarjan festivities, it triggered major concern.

During the arrest, police seized seven mobile phones, three SIM cards, six memory card holders, and other digital equipment from Ashwini’s possession.

He is now being brought to Mumbai for further questioning.