A 26-year-old former employee of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has been arrested by the city police in Bengaluru for allegedly sending bomb threats to the IT major’s office. The accused, identified as B Shruthi Shetty, had worked with TCS for a few months before resigning in 2017 to pursue an MBA. However, after learning that TCS had no plans to rehire her, Shetty became upset and decided to seek revenge on the company by making a hoax call.

Bengaluru Police apprehended B Shruthi Shetty from her residence in Belagavi on November 15 following a hoax bomb threat she made to her former employer, TCS. According to a report by The Indian Express, on November 14, Shetty contacted TCS’s transport helpdesk claiming that a bomb had been placed within the office premises.

The false bomb threat caused panic among the employees, leading to an immediate alert to the police. Raju Chetry, assistant security officer, promptly informed the authorities when it was revealed that the threat was a hoax, resulting in a subsequent investigation.

During the interrogation, the police discovered that Shetty, a graduate with a Bachelor of Business Management (BBM) degree, harboured resentment towards TCS for refusing to rehire her. Despite applying to various organizations, she was unsuccessful in finding employment elsewhere.

Under the influence of alcohol, Shetty contacted a bus driver from the company with whom she had established a rapport during her tenure. She used her mother’s mobile phone to make the hoax call. Following this incident, Shetty has been released on bail. Her parents revealed that she has been struggling with depression, which may have influenced her actions.

Hoax bomb threats are considered serious crimes as they have a detrimental impact on businesses and communities. They instill panic and fear, disrupt business operations, and result in the loss of valuable time and resources.