The Delhi Police recently uncovered key details in the investigation of hoax bomb emails sent to over 400 schools, which caused widespread panic and disrupted school activities.
The case has sparked political tensions between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), with both parties accusing each other of using the issue to further their political agendas.
The controversy began when Delhi Police detained a teenager suspected of sending these emails. The police revealed that the teenager had connections to an NGO linked to a political party.
This NGO had previously voiced support for Afzal Guru, the Parliament attack convict, which further added to the political drama. Although the police refused to name the political party, the BJP immediately pointed fingers at AAP, suggesting that it was involved in the plot. In response, the AAP dismissed these allegations, accusing the BJP of politicising a serious matter.
At a press conference, BJP leader Sudhanshu Trivedi stated, "Atishi's parents worked to save Afzal Guru. Did AAP or any NGO associated with them have any connection with this [hoax bomb threats]?"
The reference to Atishi's parents, who had supported Afzal Guru's mercy petition, was aimed at implicating the AAP in the controversy. The BJP's accusation was met with strong resistance from AAP leader Sanjay Singh, who demanded that the BJP focus on the facts rather than engage in political finger-pointing.
Singh questioned the BJP’s attempts to gain political leverage from such a sensitive issue, stating, "You are trying to gain political advantage out of bomb threats to little children. Aren't you ashamed?"
While the police confirmed that the teenager was behind the emails, they also revealed that further investigations were ongoing to determine if others were involved in the plot.
The emails were sent using advanced technical methods, which led the police to suspect that the teenager might not have acted alone. The use of VPNs to mask the email’s origin posed significant challenges to the investigation.
The police also considered the possibility that the threats might be linked to terrorist organisations, though no such evidence has been confirmed so far.
Special Commissioner of Police Madhup Tewari explained, "We conducted a deep investigation, sought data from email providers, and profiled the family. The investigation revealed that the teenager had sent emails to 250 schools simultaneously." Despite these efforts, the police were unable to immediately pinpoint the mastermind behind the hoax emails.
The investigation also uncovered the teenager’s connection to an NGO that had publicly questioned the legitimacy of Afzal Guru's 2013 execution. This led to speculation that the teenager might have been influenced by the NGO or even political figures with ties to the organisation. "We can't conclude at this stage that the child acted alone. We are also investigating if there is a political link or intent to disrupt public order," Tewari added.
The motive behind the bomb threats remains unclear. Police noted that many of the emails were sent on days when exams were not scheduled, which raises questions about whether the intent was to disrupt exams or simply create chaos.
The emails, which began in February 2024, continued sporadically until January 2025, leading to growing concerns about the extent of the operation.
The BJP used the investigation to launch a direct attack on the AAP, accusing it of trying to create fear and instability in the city. BJP spokesperson Sushanshu Trivedi claimed, "AAP has connections with NGOs that have been anti-national. Even Atishi’s parents supported Afzal Guru’s mercy petition. Does the Aam Aadmi Party or its associated NGOs have any connection to this incident?"
Delhi BJP Chief Virendra Sachdeva echoed similar sentiments, alleging that the AAP was involved in orchestrating the hoax emails to disrupt Delhi's peace.
The AAP, on the other hand, criticised the BJP for politicising the issue, pointing out that the first hoax threat emerged months ago. Sanjay Singh argued,
"The first threat was given in May 2024. After almost nine months, now the BJP is raising the issue and making fabricated claims." He further accused the BJP of using the matter as a pre-election tactic to create divisions.
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