After a manhunt that lasted nearly two weeks, Nagpur Police have detained a man believed to be behind the recent hoax bomb threats against more than 100 flights operated by Indian carriers.

The individual, identified as Jagdish Shriram Uikey, is facing allegations of sending over 354 fake emails. These emails not only targeted flights and trains across the country, but also contained threats against the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), senior government officials, and various critical organizations.

Who is Jagdish Uikey and how did he manage to threaten the authorities on such a large scale? Here’s a closer look.

Who is Jagadish Uikey?

Jagdish Uikey is a 35-year-old writer from Arjuni Morgaon in eastern Maharashtra’s Maoist-affected Gondia district.

Nagpur Police DCP Lohit Matani explained: Times of India It was stated that Uikey, who was educated only up to Class 11, was the author of a book on terrorism titled ‘Atankwad-Ek Tufaani Rakshash (Terrorism: The Demonic Storm)’.

According to Uikey, his book, sold on Amazon for Rs 350, “puts before you all the facts of terrorism and provides secret information about terrorism that no country or author has ever revealed to the world before.” He also claims that he will donate 50 percent of the book’s profits “for the benefit of the country.”

Police commissioner Ravinder Singal said: TOIHe said Uikey’s motivations were not linked to actual terrorism but were instead a publicity stunt aimed at attracting attention.

“At first glance, he appeared to be following PMO and others to publish his book through repeated emails, but later in frustration he started sending fake mails,” he said.

What did he say in his emails?

Beginning in January, Uikey allegedly sent numerous emails containing warnings of bombs being planted in various locations and threats of imminent explosion. Between October 25 and October 30 alone, 30 locations across India reportedly claimed to be at risk.

His emails contained threats against prominent political figures and government officials, including Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis. Accordingly India todayUikey requested a meeting with officials to share “critical information” about security threats.

Authorities detected 354 emails in the “sent” folder of Uikey’s Gmail account. A different pattern emerged, including email activity sent to Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis of Maharashtra in October, in which he falsely claimed to have information about the “secret terror code” 25-MBA-5-MTR.

One of his emails threatened that 31 flights of major airlines like IndiGo, Vistara, SpiceJet and Air India would be hijacked. He also claimed that six airports across India were targeted by the Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist group, prompting authorities to increase security measures and put the CISF on high alert.

In his final emails, Uikey warned of “sleeper cell activities in India,” often combining his threats with similar warnings from US sources. The police told TOI They are investigating the possibility that he may have borrowed language from American sources.

This isn’t Uikey’s first brush with the law. Police say he was interrogated twice in 2021; one for sending inappropriate emails and the other for filing a complaint that linked job candidates to the PMO. Following these incidents, he reportedly left Maharashtra and moved to Delhi, where he made his final threats. Times of India.

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How did authorities track down Uikey?

Investigators led by Deputy Commissioner of Police Shweta Khedkar tracked down Jagdish Uikey through emails he sent to various agencies. According to police, an internet protocol (IP) address shared by Google linked to an email sent to a central minister confirmed that the sender was Uikey.

Investigation also revealed that the SIM card in his mobile phone was registered in his name and his Arjuni Morgaon address was listed.

Uikey was arrested by Nagpur Police after returning from Delhi. The investigation into his digital activities and communication patterns is ongoing, with authorities examining his devices and cyber cafe terminals he may have used to send threatening emails.

“We are scanning their call detail records and laptops. Bank accounts and money traces are also being checked,” Superintendent of Police Ravinder Singal said. TOI.

It is expected that the detention period of Uikey, who is currently in police custody, will be extended. Authorities also plan to conduct psychological evaluations to better understand their actions and possible motivations.

With input from agencies