A 30-year-old robotics engineer from Chennai, Rene Joshilda, has been arrested for sending fake bomb threat emails across 11 Indian states. Her goal was to frame a former colleague, Divij Prabhakar, who did not return her romantic interest and later got married.
What Happened?
Rene, who worked as a senior consultant at Deloitte since 2022, met Divij during a project in Bengaluru. She developed feelings for him, but he didn’t feel the same way and married someone else in February this year.
Unable to accept the rejection, Rene started creating hundreds of fake email IDs, using 80 different phone numbers purchased through VPNs. She used her technical knowledge and tools like the dark web and Tor browser to hide her identity.
She sent out bomb threat emails to schools, hospitals, and public places in cities across 11 states, including Gujarat, Maharashtra, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, and more. She used fake names similar to Divij’s to make it look like he was behind the threats.
Claimed Fake Role in Air India Crash
Shockingly, Rene also falsely claimed responsibility for the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad on June 12, which killed 274 people. In a threatening email to a medical college, she wrote disturbing messages claiming it was done on purpose — all to scare people and strengthen the false link to Divij.
Bomb Threats in Ahmedabad
Rene targeted 21 spots in Ahmedabad alone, including:
- Narendra Modi Stadium in Motera
- Geneva Liberal School
- Civil Hospital
Her emails made police forces across India panic and investigate deeply.
How Was She Caught?
Despite using VPNs, fake phone numbers, and anonymous browsers, Rene made one small digital mistake. She accidentally logged into her real and fake email accounts using the same device, which revealed her actual IP address.
This tiny slip allowed the cyber crime team and crime branch to trace her and arrest her.
Police Statement
“She was very smart and used all possible methods to stay hidden,” said Joint CP (Crime) Sharad Singhal. “But that one careless login gave her away. She was finally caught after a long investigation.”
