Gujarat Police to Question Google Over 500,000 Gmail Accounts Used in Hoax Bomb Threats

Gujarat's cybercrime division has uncovered more than 500,000 Gmail accounts that appear to have been employed to send hoax bomb threat messages across the state. The accounts were linked to a coordinated campaign that triggered panic in schools, offices and public venues, prompting police to launch a full‑scale investigation.
The police have now issued a notice to Google, seeking detailed logs and user data associated with the identified accounts. Officials said the request aims to verify the origin of the threats and to determine whether the accounts were created fraudulently or compromised by third parties.
Authorities warned that the misuse of email platforms for terror‑related hoaxes is a serious offence under Indian law. They indicated that once the data is received, the police will pursue legal action against the perpetrators, which could include filing charges under the Information Technology Act and the Indian Penal Code.
The incident highlights growing concerns over the exploitation of global digital services for local security threats, and underscores the need for tighter cooperation between tech firms and Indian law‑enforcement agencies.