AI-generated fake bomb threats: US-based IT professional arrested

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: An IT professional has been arrested for sending more than 200 fake bomb threat emails using artificial intelligence (AI) technology. The arrested person has been identified as Sharath Subramanian, a native of Chennai who is settled in the United States. The Chennai police arrested him when he arrived at the airport recently. He was later handed over to the Thiruvananthapuram City Police.

Sharath, who has been working in the IT sector for 12 years, is currently conducting research in AI technology. Since 2023, he has allegedly sent more than 200 bomb threat emails targeting the Governor, Chief Minister, courts, the Secretariat, Collectorates, temples and five-star hotels. As many as 40 fake threat messages were received in Thiruvananthapuram city alone. Forty cases have been registered against Sharath at the Thiruvananthapuram City Cyber Crime Police Station.

He allegedly used free Wi-Fi networks at public markets in Auckland to create email IDs from which the threats were sent. After sending each threat, he would monitor the subsequent developments and the inconvenience caused to the public and officials through local television channels.

Devotees of Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple also targeted

The bomb threat emails had disrupted court proceedings in Thiruvananthapuram on six occasions. Sharath had also obtained the email IDs of Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple and Attukal Temple and sent bomb threats targeting devotees.

A bomb threat received at the Thiruvananthapuram Collectorate had triggered a search operation during which even senior officials were stung by bees. The arrest was carried out by a team of the City Cyber Crime Police under the direction of City Police Commissioner Dr Arul R. B. Krishna and with the intervention of Deputy Commissioner K. S. Shahansha. City Cyber Crime Police Inspectors Ajayakumar and Prakash, Sub-Inspector Shibu and Senior Civil Police Officer Rakesh were part of the team.