Five courts in Karnataka receive hoax bomb threats, police launch probe

A weaponry menace email was sent to the Karnataka High Court's Dharwad Bench, Bengaluru South territory court, and the territory courts successful Mandya, Madikeri and Mangaluru, prompting authorities to behaviour extended hunt operations connected Monday (February 16, 2026), constabulary said. However, the menace emails turned retired to beryllium hoax.

The constabulary said an email was sent to Bengaluru tribunal with copies to different territory tribunal complexes threatening of explosion.

As a precautionary measure, lawyers and unit were evacuated from the tribunal analyzable buildings successful Bengaluru, Dharwad, Mangaluru, Mandya and Kodagu districts, they said. Security unit cordoned disconnected the premises and carried retired thorough checks, constabulary said.

Court premises evacuated

In Dharwad, Superintendent of Police Gunjan Arya visited the spot and inspected the High Court premises pursuing the threat. Police launched a broad hunt operation, and arsenic a precautionary measure, everyone was evacuated from the building.

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According to police, unit from the weaponry squad besides reached the country and continued the inspection.

Speaking to reporters successful Dharwad, Arya said, "We are conducting a afloat inspection. Only our unit are inside. The email connection says the detonation would hap astatine 1:15 pm. We are gathering much accusation astir the remaining details. The connection besides contains references to antithetic states, truthful we cannot stock further accusation astatine this moment."

In Mandya and Kodagu, tribunal proceedings were suspended pursuing the weaponry menace email. Judges, lawyers, litigants, and members of the nationalist were evacuated from the tribunal analyzable premises arsenic a precautionary measure.

“The menace has turned retired to beryllium a hoax. We person registered a lawsuit and are investigating the matter,” said Kodagu Superintendent of Police Bindu Mani R.N.

In Mangaluru, too, the metropolis constabulary carried retired a thorough hunt of the territory tribunal complex. In a statement, Police Commissioner Sudheer Kumar Reddy said the menace was recovered to beryllium hoax. “The proceedings successful the tribunal analyzable went connected arsenic usual. A lawsuit was registered with the Mangaluru North Police Station,” Mr. Reddy said.

Further probe is underway.

(With inputs from PTI)