Woman Arrested for False Bomb Threat to Evade Baggage Charges at Mumbai Airport

Mumbai, 1st June 2023: A woman who caused chaos at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport by falsely claiming to have a bomb in order to evade excess baggage charges has been arrested by Mumbai Police. The accused, identified as Rucha Sharma, was set to board a Spice Jet flight from Mumbai to Kolkata. She was released on bail after appearing in court, according to a police officer.

The incident unfolded when Sharma arrived at the check-in counter with two bags, weighing a total of 22 kg. As the weight limit for domestic flights is 15 kg, Sharma was informed that she would need to pay an additional fee for the excess weight. Refusing to comply, Sharma engaged in a heated argument with a female employee from Spice Jet.

During the altercation, Sharma resorted to making derogatory remarks against the staff. At this point, the employee called Muthu Kumar, a Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) officer. In response, Sharma claimed to have a bomb in her bag after being informed of Kumar’s CISF affiliation.

Recognizing the gravity of the situation, Muthu Kumar promptly summoned the canine unit to the spot. However, upon inspection, no suspicious items were found in Sharma’s bag. Subsequently, the bag was opened and thoroughly examined, revealing no incriminating contents.

The incident caused a tense atmosphere at the airport temporarily, prompting the Mumbai Police control room to be notified. A police team was dispatched to the airport, and based on a complaint filed by airline employee Dhanshree Wadkar, Sharma was charged under Sections 336 and 505(2) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and subsequently arrested.

Following her arrest, Sharma was presented before the court, which granted her bail.