Man Held for Hoax Bomb Threat at Pune’s Sassoon Hospital; Panic Triggered Among Patients and Staff
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A 29-year-old security guard has been arrested by Pune’s Bundgarden Police for allegedly sending a hoax bomb threat message to Sassoon General Hospital, triggering panic on the premises. The incident took place on May 12, 2025, when a doctor at the hospital received a threatening message claiming a bomb had been planted in the facility.
Immediately after receiving the alert, police teams, along with the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS), conducted a comprehensive search of the hospital. No explosives were found. A formal complaint was registered by hospital authorities for causing fear and disruption among patients, their relatives, and medical staff.
Under the leadership of Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 2) Smartana Patil, a special investigation team was assembled. Police Sub-Inspector Swapnil Lohar led the probe, which swiftly identified the accused as Arvind Krishna Kokani, a hospital security guard residing in Yerawada near Dr. Siddharth Dhende’s residence.
The investigation revealed that Kokani had stolen a mobile phone belonging to a female patient in Ward 73 and used it to send bomb threat messages—first to Dr. Harish Suresh Tatiya and later to the hospital’s medical superintendent. He then switched off the device to avoid detection.
Kokani later confessed during police questioning and was formally arrested on May 14 for spreading false information and disrupting hospital services.
The operation was executed under the supervision of Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar, Joint Commissioner Ranjan Kumar Sharma, Additional Commissioner Manoj Patil, and Assistant Commissioner Deepak Nikam, with key support from multiple senior officials and investigating officers.
