Sending threatening e-mail or hoax e-mails have become common in India. The latest to add to this list is a stock broker who sent as many as 15 hoax e-mails to blow up the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE). He was later on arrested by the Mumbai Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) from his home town.The accused has been booked under various sections of the Information Technology Act, 2000 (IT Act 2000) and has been handed over to the Mumbai police's cyber crime investigation cell.
On preliminary investigation it was found by ATS Chief, Rakesh Maria that the aim of these pranks e-mails was to force fall in prices of share so that he can invest further. To meet this objective he sent e-mails to BSE threatening to blow up the Dalal Street building in south Mumbai on January 24 or the day after Republic Day.
After the FIR was registered, the internet protocol (IP) address led the police to Shahbad and finally to the residence of the accused. He told the police that he had got the idea after watching news about hoax calls on television. He said that he created the ID a week before he sent the emails to BSE security officer S Dange.
India has neither a stringent law punishing prank calls nor its cyber law is stringent enough to tackle such nuisances. Almost all cyber crimes are bailable under the IT Act, 2000 and in cases like these the accused would be released on bail as a matter of right.
There is an urgent need to formulate suitable laws in this regard so that valuable time of police can be used for saving lives of those who are in need and actual danger.
