ISRO bomb threat traced to Ghaziabad man; second email hits same day
Synopsis
A hoax bomb threat emailed to ISRO's Bengaluru headquarters on 2 July has been traced to an unemployed, reportedly mentally ill man in Ghaziabad — but before police could close the file, a second threat from a different sender arrived on the same day the first arrest was announced. Two threats, two senders, one of India's most sensitive institutions.
Key Takeaways
ISRO headquarters (Antariksha Bhavan) in Bengaluru received a hoax bomb threat email on 2 July .
Police traced the email to Nishanth Tyagi , an unemployed man in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh , described as 'mentally ill.' An electronic device used to send the threat was seized; forensic examination confirmed its use in the offence.
A second bomb threat email was sent to the same ISRO facility on 4 July by a different individual; investigation is ongoing.
No suspicious objects were found during the police search of the ISRO premises following the first threat.
The Bengaluru City Police have traced a hoax bomb threat email sent to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) headquarters at Antariksha Bhavan, New BEL Road, Bengaluru, to an unemployed man in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, according to a press note issued by the Office of the Bengaluru City Commissioner of Police on 4 July. The accused, identified as Nishanth Tyagi, was traced through digital forensics and subsequently secured by a special investigation team.
The Threat and Immediate Response
The ISRO headquarters received the threatening email on 2 July, warning of a bomb blast at the facility. Police personnel responded immediately, conducting a comprehensive search of the premises. No suspicious objects or circumstances matching the email's contents were found, and the threat was confirmed to be a hoax.
Following a formal complaint lodged by the Administrative Officer of ISRO headquarters, the Sanjaynagar Police Station — which has jurisdiction over the area — registered a case and launched a formal investigation.
How the Accused Was Traced
A special investigation team comprising police officers and technical staff was constituted to trace the origin of the email. Through technical analysis and examination of digital evidence, investigators tracked the email to Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh, where Nishanth Tyagi was identified and secured.
An electronic device allegedly used to send the threatening email was seized from the accused. Forensic examination of the device confirmed it had been used to dispatch the bomb threat to ISRO's Bengaluru headquarters, police said. Tyagi, described as unemployed, was claimed by the Bengaluru City Police to be 'mentally ill,' and further investigation is underway.
A Second Threat on the Same Day
Notably, even as police were investigating the first incident, a second bomb threat email was sent to the same ISRO establishment on 4 July — the same day the resolution of the first case was announced. Authorities confirmed that this second email was sent by a different individual. Investigation into the second threat is ongoing.
This is the second such hoax targeting ISRO's headquarters within days, raising concerns about the vulnerability of critical space infrastructure to coordinated or copycat threats, even when the original sender has been apprehended.
Broader Context
India's premier space agency has been under heightened public attention following a series of high-profile missions. Hoax threats to strategic institutions — including airports, courts, and now space agencies — have seen an uptick across India in recent years, prompting calls for stricter enforcement under the Information Technology Act and Indian Penal Code provisions relating to criminal intimidation. The Bengaluru City Police has not yet disclosed which specific sections have been invoked in the present case.
With the second threat now under active investigation, authorities are expected to determine whether the two incidents are linked or represent independent actors emboldened by the pattern.
Point of View
One that existing legal deterrents are clearly not preventing. The speed with which Bengaluru Police traced the first email is commendable, but the second threat arriving on the same day the first was resolved suggests that public announcements of arrests may themselves be triggering imitation. Authorities need a dual response: faster prosecution that serves as a genuine deterrent, and a quieter operational protocol that does not inadvertently advertise the method.
NationPress
4 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who sent the bomb threat email to ISRO headquarters in Bengaluru?
The first threat email, sent on 2 July, was traced to Nishanth Tyagi , an unemployed man from Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh , who Bengaluru City Police claim is mentally ill. A second threat sent on 4 July came from a different individual, who is still under investigation.
Was there an actual bomb at ISRO's Bengaluru headquarters?
No. Police conducted a comprehensive search of the ISRO headquarters at Antariksha Bhavan, New BEL Road, following the threat and found no suspicious objects. The threat was confirmed to be a hoax.
How did Bengaluru Police trace the email to Ghaziabad?
A special investigation team used technical analysis and digital evidence examination to track the origin of the email to Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh. An electronic device seized from the accused was forensically confirmed to have been used to send the threatening email.
What is the status of the second bomb threat to ISRO?
A second bomb threat email was sent to the same ISRO establishment on 4 July by a different individual. Investigation into this second threat is ongoing, and no further details about the new suspect have been released.
What legal action has been taken against Nishanth Tyagi?
A case was registered by the Sanjaynagar Police Station in Bengaluru following a complaint by the Administrative Officer of ISRO headquarters. Tyagi has been 'secured' by police and his electronic device seized; the specific charges have not been publicly disclosed, and further investigation is continuing.
