Versova Man Arrested at Mumbai Airport After Bomb Joke Delays IndiGo Flight
Sahar police arrested a 55-year-old Versova resident after he allegedly claimed there was a bomb in his bag during security checks for a Mumbai-Delhi IndiGo flight on August 9, delaying the aircraft by an hour.
The passenger, identified as Anuj Jayaram Suvarna, was scheduled to travel on flight 6E333, which was set to depart Mumbai for Delhi at 8:00 am on an official trip. Over 100 passengers were deplaned following the incident, and the aircraft took off at 9:00 am after completing security protocols.
According to the complaint filed by IndiGo assistant security manager Omprakash Rajbhar, airline staff were conducting routine hand baggage checks and questioning passengers about restricted items. At 7:25 am, airline staff member Ravindra Rahul Rokade asked Suvarna if he was carrying items such as a mouse, lighter, scissors, nail cutter, liquid, or spray. Suvarna reportedly responded by stating that there was a bomb in his bag.
Rokade alerted assistant manager Ojashree Oak, who arrived at the scene and decided to offload Suvarna. Two bags belonging to the passenger were removed from the aircraft. Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel intervened, the flight was halted, and all passengers were deboarded for safety checks.
Suvarna was questioned by the CISF before being handed over to Sahar police. Following thorough checks of his baggage, police registered a first information report against him under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections 125, relating to acts endangering human life or personal safety of others, and 351 (2) for criminal intimidation. Suvarna was later released on bail.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (West Zone-1) Nimit Goyal stated that Suvarna claimed he made the remark jokingly, but was charged following the disruption. A police officer noted that the airline declared Suvarna an unruly passenger and planned to blacklist his name from future flights.
The airline informed the police that the remark created fear among passengers, required a full deboarding and rechecking process, and caused financial loss and operational delays.
