Who Is Ashwini Kumar? Bihar Astrologer Held in Noida for Sending Terror Threat to Mumbai
Mumbai: Within hours of receiving a chilling WhatsApp message threatening to attack Mumbai with human bombs and 400 kg of RDX on Anant Chaturdashi (6 September), police traced and arrested the sender a 51-year-old man from Noida, Uttar Pradesh.
The accused has been identified as Ashwini Kumar, an astrologer and vastu consultant originally from Patna, Bihar, who currently resides in Noida’s Sector 79. The threatening message was directed to the official WhatsApp number of Mumbai Traffic Police on Thursday, just ahead of the Ganesh Visarjan festivities.
Also read: Bihar Man Arrested form Noida Over Chilling Mumbai Ganesh Visarjan Bomb Threat
In his messages, Kumar falsely claimed ties to a Pakistan-based jihadi group and alleged that 14 terrorists had already infiltrated Mumbai.
Who Is Ashwini Kumar?
Ashwini Kumar is a postgraduate by qualification and works as both an astrologer and vastu consultant. He originally hails from Patliputra, Patna, where his father, Suresh Kumar, served as an official in the education department before retirement. His mother, Prabhawati, is a homemaker. Kumar’s family has been living in Noida’s Sector 79 for the past five years. Police also confirmed he has a strained relationship with his wife, Archana.
Why Did He Send the Threat?
According to Hindustan Times, Kumar had a fallout with a friend named Firoz, who lodged a financial complaint against him in 2023 at Patna’s Phulwari Sharif Police Station. Kumar was imprisoned for three months in connection with that case. Investigators now believe he used Firoz’s name while sending the latest threat in an attempt to frame him in a terror case.
Also read: Mumbai : Bomb Threat Targets Ganesh Visarjan with 34 Human Bombs
Case Details and Recovery
Police have booked Kumar under sections 196(1)(a)(b), 351(2), 351(3), and 351(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. During the search, authorities recovered seven mobile phones, three SIM cards, six memory card holders, an external SIM slot, two digital cards, and several other electronic devices.
The accused remains in custody as further investigation continues.