Chennai Woman Behind Nationwide Bomb Hoax Also Claimed Air India Crash, Say Investigators

 A woman based in Chennai, identified as Rene Joshilda, has been accused of orchestrating a large-scale hoax campaign involving bomb threats across multiple Indian states and falsely claiming responsibility for a recent Air India crash in Ahmedabad. According to investigators speaking to The Times of India, Joshilda’s actions were part of a calculated attempt to implicate a former partner.

Joshilda, a senior consultant at a multinational technology firm, allegedly used spoofed emails, virtual private networks (VPNs), and the dark web to send threatening messages to schools, hospitals, and high-security institutions in at least 12 states, including Gujarat, Maharashtra, Delhi, Rajasthan, and Kerala.

In one of the emails, sent to Ahmedabad’s BJ Medical College on June 13, she referenced the tragic Air India Flight AI-171 crash, stating:
“We crashed the Air India plane yesterday. You thought it was a hoax. Now you know we’re serious.”
She went on to warn that more attacks would follow.

Investigators have confirmed that the message was part of a broader effort by Joshilda to escalate public panic and falsely implicate her former partner, Divij Prabhakar, who married someone else earlier this year. Authorities believe the motive behind the hoax campaign was rooted in personal vengeance.

The initial incident occurred on June 3, when a school in Ahmedabad received a bomb threat, prompting a nationwide investigation. Over the following days, several more institutions received similar threats. Targets included high-profile locations such as the Narendra Modi Stadium and various medical colleges.

One email read:
“Bomb successfully planted in Narendra Modi Stadium. Save the stadium if you can.”

Another message ominously declared:
“Like we sent you mail yesterday, we crashed the Air India plane with our former CM… Now you know we are not playing.”

According to police sources, Joshilda meticulously masked her digital footprint using encrypted browsers, anonymized phone numbers, and disposable email accounts. The timing of the threats often coincided with religious events, school exams, or VIP movements, indicating a deliberate effort to maximize disruption and fear.

“We were tracking her for a long time,” said a senior investigating officer. “She was extremely cautious and avoided leaving a digital trail. But a minor error led us to her location. She was arrested from her residence in Chennai.”

Authorities have recovered digital devices and documents linking her directly to the threats. Investigators noted that the case was built on a combination of technical evidence and her psychological profile, particularly the emotional fallout from her failed relationship.

The case has raised serious concerns about cyber abuse, mental health, and digital security, especially in an era where sophisticated technology can be weaponized to create widespread panic.