What is the Penalty if you Make a Hoax Bomb Threat or a Prank Call?

New Delhi: Amid the ongoing surge of bomb scares, airlines in India are facing a major challenge as multiple threats claim bombs have been placed on specific flights. Although most of these threats have proven to be hoaxes, they have still caused widespread disruption.

Issuing a fake bomb threat is far from a harmless prank, particularly in India, where the law takes a tough stance against those attempting to incite chaos or panic. Over the years, many individuals have been caught making such threats, either as a misguided prank or in an attempt to manipulate situations. What they failed to understand is that these actions carry severe legal and social consequences.

With the recent rise in bomb hoax threats over the past week, the question that has come to light is: what is the penalty or punishment for making a hoax bomb threat or a prank call? Speaking of consquences on such cases in India, the nation's laws regarding fake bomb threats are quite stringent. Such threats can cause widespread panic, disrupt public services, and divert resources from genuine emergencies. The primary laws that deal with such threats are sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and, in more serious cases, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

A look at Legal Consequences and Penalties for Making a Hoax Bomb Threat in India

India's legal framework imposes strict penalties for making hoax bomb threats, reflecting the seriousness of such actions and their potential to incite panic and disrupt public order. The relevant laws and sections include:

IPC Section 505: This section addresses statements leading to public mischief. A person making a fake bomb threat that causes fear or chaos can be charged under this section, facing up to 3 years of imprisonment, a fine, or both.

IPC Section 507: If a threat is made anonymously, it falls under criminal intimidation through anonymous communication, resulting in a possible imprisonment of up to 2 years.

IPC Section 182: Making a false report to public servants with the intent to cause harm can lead to imprisonment of up to 6 months or a fine.

Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA): If a bomb threat is serious enough to be deemed an act of terrorism, it can lead to much harsher penalties under the UAPA, including life imprisonment and substantial fines.

Disaster Management Act, 2005: Creating panic that disrupts emergency services can result in imprisonment for up to 1 year or a fine.

Punishments for Hoax Bomb Threat in India

Imprisonment: Offenders may face jail time ranging from 6 months to 7 years or more, depending on the severity of the case and the laws invoked.

Monetary Fines: Courts may impose fines to deter such behavior and compensate for wasted resources.

Criminal Record: A conviction leads to a permanent criminal record, potentially affecting future employment and travel opportunities.

Detention Without Bail: In cases where the UAPA is invoked, the accused may face prolonged detention without bail.

These stringent laws are designed to prevent chaos and ensure public safety in the face of threats. In the last one week, nearly 100 flights received threats sending security agencies into a tizzy. The threats later turned out to be hoaxes.

Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu said amendments are being planned to aviation security rules as well as the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against Safety of Civil Aviation Act, 1982. The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) is continuously in touch with the Ministry of Home Affairs on the situation of bomb threats to flights, he said.

The civil aviation ministry further said that the government plans to take legislative actions to deal with instances of bomb threats to the airlines, including placing the perpetrators in the no-fly list.