Mumbai airport bomb ‘scare’: Security manager records statement

Following the arrest of a model on Thursday after she faked a bomb scare, the Sahar police have recorded the statement of the airport security manager who witnessed the incident.

The 27-year-old model, Kanchan Thakur, had created panic at the T2 Terminal of Sahar International Airport during a security check by telling a security guard that her friend was carrying a bomb in her bag.

The comment — allegedly meant to be a joke— set off alarm bells in security agencies and both the women were detained. Thakur was later arrested and later released on bail.

According to the Sahar police, around 8.30 pm Thakur and three of her friends were waiting in queue at the security check to board an Air India flight to Delhi. After she was cleared by the security officials, she allegedly told an official that one of her friends was carrying a bomb in her bag.

The official then immediately called the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) at the spot.

Thakur and her companions were detained after which Thakur tried to explain to the officials that she meant the bomb-scare as a joke and requested that they be allowed to continue with their journey. This led to the delay of their flight by an hour as they had already checked in but around 10 pm, the Air India authorities asked the flight to take off without the four women.

The CISF officers then took the accused and her companions to the Sahar police station where an FIR was registered against them under section 336 (endangering life or personal safety of others) of 505 (1) (b) (intent to cause or which is likely to cause fear or alarm to the public which is punishable by jail up to three years or fine) of the IPC at 4.30 am.

Thakur was allowed to leave as the law does not allow women to be arrested at night. She was asked to report at the police station around 10.30 am on Friday when she was arrested and granted bail.

Commenting on the case, senior inspector of Sahar police station, BT Mukhedkar, said, “We will soon file a charge sheet in the case.” If proven guilty, Thakur can be sentenced to three years in jail, he added.

Also read: Air India’s call centre receives bomb threat call, police register case