On Thursday morning, a bomb threat email addressed to the Director General of Police (DGP) office in Chennai sparked a high-alert security operation at the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) Southern Regional Office located in Shastri Bhavan on Haddows Road. The email claimed that an explosive device had been planted inside the ED office, prompting immediate precautionary measures and a detailed sweep of the premises by police, bomb disposal, and canine squads.

The security team comprising officials from Chennai Police, the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS), and dog squads arrived promptly around 8:40 am and initiated a comprehensive search of the entire third floor third block B Wing as per protocol. The ED staff were restricted from entering the building during the search that lasted an hour. Senior officials of the ED, including the Special Director (Southern Region) and Additional Director of CEZO-I, supervised the inspection which concluded at around 11:30 am.

Following the intensive checks using metal detectors and sniffer dogs, authorities confirmed that no suspicious objects or explosive materials were found anywhere in the ED office. The threat email was considered a hoax, but police have launched an investigation to trace the origin of the mail and identify the sender. Cybercrime teams are actively examining email data to pinpoint the threat’s source.

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Officials linked the threat to investigations involving Tamil Nadu Minister K.N. Nehru, as the email reportedly referenced probes into alleged irregularities and cash-for-job scams involving the minister and related entities. This connection has heightened sensitivities and necessitated stringent security vigilance. The government assured that all necessary security protocols remain firmly in place, and the ED office has resumed normal operations following the all-clear.

This incident is not isolated; Chennai has witnessed a rise in similar hoax bomb threats recently targeting various institutions. While the threats were unfounded, they have underscored the need for constant security readiness at sensitive government offices. Authorities continue to monitor and strengthen precautionary measures to safeguard personnel and infrastructure against any future risks.

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