Versova Resident Arrested at Mumbai Airport for Bomb Joke on Delhi IndiGo Flight
Mumbai police arrested a 55-year-old passenger, identified as Versova resident Anuj Jayaram Suvarna, after he allegedly joked that there was a bomb in his bag aboard an IndiGo Mumbai-Delhi flight on August 9. The incident triggered security protocols, forcing more than 100 passengers to deboard and delaying the flight by an hour at the Mumbai airport.
The disruption occurred on flight 6E333, which was scheduled to depart Mumbai for Delhi at 8:00 am. Suvarna, who was travelling to the capital for work, was deboarded along with two of his bags after making the remark during a routine security query.
According to a complaint filed by airline assistant security manager Omprakash Rajbhar, airline staff were conducting hand baggage checks and asking passengers whether they were carrying prohibited items. When staff asked Suvarna if his bag contained items such as scissors, lighters, nail cutters, liquids, or sprays, he allegedly claimed it contained a bomb.
Following the remark, airline personnel alerted senior staff and the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF). Suvarna was taken into custody for questioning and subsequently handed over to the Sahar police. IndiGo declared him an unruly passenger, and police noted that he may be placed on the airline's no-fly blacklist.
Security personnel conducted thorough checks of the aircraft and all passenger baggage before clearing the flight. The plane eventually took off for Delhi at 9:00 am without Suvarna on board.
An First Information Report (FIR) was registered against Suvarna under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Sections 125, for acts endangering human life or safety, and 351(2), for criminal intimidation. DCP Nimit Goyal stated that Suvarna claimed he made the remark as a joke. He was later released on bail.
The incident took place amid heightened security measures enforced across major Indian airports ahead of Independence Day, with enhanced screening protocols in place until approximately August 20.
