Published Jul 23, 2026 | 11:12 AM ⚊ Updated Jul 23, 2026 | 11:12 AM
Sharath Subramanian Shankar
A software engineer who had been working in the United States has been arrested at Chennai International Airport in connection with a case involving more than 1,500 fake bomb threat emails sent to airports and institutions across India between 2023 and 2025.
The accused, identified as Sharath Subramanian Shankar, hails from Ambasamudram in Tirunelveli district and was employed at a software company in Austin, Texas.
He was detained by immigration officials upon his arrival in Chennai on an Etihad Airways flight and was later taken into custody by the Tamil Nadu Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) for questioning.
According to the police, over 100 criminal cases have been registered against him in Tamil Nadu. He is accused of sending bomb threat emails targeting airports, schools, colleges, Anna University, political leaders, senior police officers and retired intelligence officials.
The threats triggered extensive security checks by bomb detection and disposal squads at airports, educational institutions, government offices and private establishments. All the threats were later found to be hoaxes.
Police said the accused allegedly used encrypted communication services, virtual private networks (VPNs), the dark web and overseas servers to conceal his identity while sending the emails.
Investigators from the Tamil Nadu Cyber Crime Wing reportedly identified him after he accidentally sent a reply from his personal email account. Following this breakthrough, his activities were monitored for nearly six months and a Look Out Circular (LOC) was issued against him.
Upon his arrival in Chennai, Sharath Subramanian Shankar was arrested and handed over to the Fort Police Station. He was later produced before a court and remanded to judicial custody.
According to a well-informed source, Shankar told investigators that he had sent the threats to “test his ability” at evading detection. Police are investigating if he acted alone or with the help of others.
(With inputs from Subash Chandra Bose.)
