Man calls up police claiming he 'planted' bomb at cinema hall

New Delhi, Jul 9: Security officials were sent into a tizzy today when a drunk man called up the police control room today and claimed to have planted a bomb at a popular cinema hall in Connaught Place area in the heart of the city.

The call was received around 1.15 PM, following which several police teams, fire tenders and bomb disposal squads were rushed to the Odeon complex, and the premises were evacuated, a Delhi Fire Department official said.

"The building was thoroughly inspected. It later turned out to be a hoax call," Additional DCP (New Delhi) Romil Baniya said.

Around three hours later, the caller, a 58-year-old former railway employee, was tracked down at central Delhi's Paharganj area and detained at Parliament Street police station where he is being interrogated by officials of police and intelligence agencies.

"He was in an inebriated state when he was detained. From preliminary investigation, it appears that he was drunk at the time of making the call as well.

However, we can't take chances and he shall be subjected to intensive interrogation," a senior police official said. An FIR is also likely to be registered in connection with the matter.

PTI