Police have exposed a cyber conspiracy in which a youth allegedly threatened to bomb the district court and police line gate number one following a breakup in a love relationship. The accused Vishal Ranjan has been arrested. Investigators found that he learned the method of sending threat emails by watching YouTube videos and used cyber tools to hide his identity.
Love Turns to Revenge Plot
According to police officials, the accused was preparing to become a teacher and had developed a friendship with a girl during his studies. The relationship later turned into love, but the girl’s marriage was fixed elsewhere. Angered by this development, the accused allegedly created a fake social media profile of the girl and started posting objectionable content, which further strained the relationship. It is alleged that the girl’s engagement was also broken due to these activities, after which the accused had to apologize during a community panchayat.
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Cyber Threat Execution Method
Driven by a sense of revenge, the accused planned the threat conspiracy. He created five different email IDs and sent messages targeting the court premises. The emails also mentioned several mobile numbers and demanded money from the chief minister, making the case more serious.
Technical Evasion Tactics Exposed
During the investigation, it was revealed that the accused had visited the Cantonment area of Varanasi and used public internet networks there. He allegedly obtained Wi-Fi access from street vendors and shopkeepers to send the threatening emails. Police said he also used masks and open public networks to avoid detection.
Anti-Terror Squad Investigation
The investigation was carried out by the Uttar Pradesh Anti Terror Squad along with the local police team using electronic and physical evidence. Officials said the accused repeatedly searched for information about VPNs, proxy servers, and Proton Mail services on the internet to hide his IP address.
Digital Evidence Seized
During the raid, police recovered five mobile phones, one laptop, two memory cards, four SIM cards, and cash from the accused’s rented room. Examination of the devices revealed around 50 email IDs, including accounts on Gmail, Outlook, and Proton Mail. Around 20 fake Facebook accounts were also discovered, which were allegedly used for social media activity and creating obscene content.
Court Proceedings and Security
Officials said the accused had downloaded photographs of women from the internet and used them to create objectionable material. The investigation also indicated that he was constantly searching for cyber-security techniques to avoid police surveillance.
After his arrest, the accused was produced before the court of Judicial Magistrate Second, Annpurna, and was sent to 14 days of judicial custody. Considering the protest from lawyers, he was produced in court secretly and strict security arrangements were made.
Ongoing Probe and Public Advisory
Police officials stated that the investigation is continuing based on cyber and technical evidence. Authorities are also trying to determine whether any other person was involved in the conspiracy.
Security agencies have appealed to the public to report any suspicious online activity to the police immediately and avoid spreading rumours on social media.
About the author – Rehan Khan is a law student and legal journalist with a keen interest in cybercrime, digital fraud, and emerging technology laws. He writes on the intersection of law, cybersecurity, and online safety, focusing on developments that impact individuals and institutions in India.
