Sacked beedi company employee arrested

Mysuru: The Devaraja Police have arrested a 65-year-old former employee of Mangalore Ganesh Beedi Works for allegedly making a hoax bomb threat call to the company’s office on Hunsur Road in DevarajaMohalla.

The incident took place on Sept. 17, when the office landline received an anonymous call. The caller threatened the staff three times, saying, “I have planted a bomb behind your office.”

The staff immediately alerted the Police. The Bomb Disposal Squad and Dog Squad reached the spot and searched the office premises, but found no explosives. A case was registered at the Devaraja Police Station.

The investigation led the Police to Rajesh Pai (65), a resident of Bhramaramba Layout in Chamarajanagar. Pai had earlier worked as a peon at Ganesh Beedi Works and is now working at a hotel.

Police said, Pai was removed from his job and suspect that he made the call out of frustration. During questioning, he reportedly admitted to making the call “for fun.”

Police said, Pai used his own mobile phone to make the call. They said, the incident appeared to be a personal grievance and there was no indication of the involvement of an organised group. Further legal action has been initiated against Pai.

The operation was carried out under the guidance of Mysuru City Police Commissioner Seema Latkar. DCP (Law and Order) Dr. Harsha Priyamvada and ACP K. Rajendra of Devaraja Sub-Division supervised the investigation.

Inspector K.R. Raghu, PSI Anil Kumar and staff members Manjunath and Y.T. Mahesh were part of the team. Commissioner Seema Latkar commended the team for tracing the caller and taking swift action.