In a chilling development following the tragic Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad on June 12, a woman from Chennai has claimed responsibility for the incident in an email sent to a local medical college. The woman, identified as Rene Joshilda, a senior consultant at a multinational firm, was arrested by the Ahmedabad Cyber Crime Branch after a weeks-long investigation.
The Shocking Claim Joshilda, an engineering graduate trained in robotics, allegedly sent over 20 bomb threat emails to various institutions across India, including schools, colleges, and the Narendra Modi Stadium. In one of her emails, she wrote, “We crashed the Air India plane yesterday. You thought it was a hoax. Now you know we’re serious.” The email was sent to BJ Medical College, which was near the crash site.
A Personal Motive According to police, Joshilda’s motive was not terrorism but personal revenge. She was reportedly in love with a man named Divij Prabhakar, who married someone else earlier this year. Unable to cope with the rejection, she allegedly attempted to frame him by sending hoax threats using fake email IDs and VPNs to mask her identity.
How She Was Caught Despite her use of advanced cyber tools and the dark web, investigators tracked her down due to a minor digital slip. She was arrested from her residence in Chennai, where authorities recovered significant digital and physical evidence.
The Aftermath The Air India crash claimed over 270 lives, including passengers and people on the ground. While Joshilda’s claim is under forensic scrutiny, authorities have not confirmed any direct link between her and the actual cause of the crash. Investigations are ongoing to determine the veracity of her statement and whether it was a hoax meant to amplify fear5.
This disturbing case has raised serious concerns about cybercrime, mental health, and the misuse of technology for personal vendettas. As the nation mourns the victims, law enforcement continues to unravel the layers behind this unprecedented incident.