Mumbai: Close on the heels of the Delhi High Court being evacuated following a bomb threat email, a similar threat email regarding the Bombay high court was received, said police officers. Mumbai police officials later confirmed no explosives were found and the threat turned out to be a hoax. Police have launched an investigation to trace the origin of the email and determine whether the threats to the Delhi and Bombay high courts are linked. Azad maidan police were in the process of registering an FIR, said cops.Security concerns led to all Bombay high court judges rising around 1pm and lawyers, staff and litigants being asked to vacate. A police team, a bomb detection and disposal squad and a dog squad arrived at the HC premises in south Mumbai and cordoned off the premises. The teams carried out thorough checks across courtrooms, corridors, and parking areas. They urged people to remain calm as they scanned the area. A senior police officer said, “We are treating the matter with utmost seriousness. Though it was a hoax, security has been further strengthened.” The high court usually has a lunch break between 2pm and 3pm. Advocate Suresh Sabrad, Secretary of the Advocates Association of Western India, told TOI he was sitting in the bar room when a colleague came rushing to inform him that the courts “have risen due to a bomb threat.” He said, “Everyone is leaving, and you must also leave,” said Sabrad. “All members and their staff are immediately requested to vacate high court premises, owing to security concerns,” said Bombay Bar Association secretary Naushad Engineer in a notice to its members. Around 3.15pm, lawyers were allowed in and some courts started functioning. tnn
