Bowring Institute office bearers receive threat; case registered

The Bowring Institute management filed a complaint with the cybercrime police on Wednesday alleging criminal intimidation, conspiracy, and circulation of threatening messages against its office bearers and members.

The complainant, H.S. Srikanth, honorary secretary of the institute, said that the issue dates back to 2013 when several members were expelled for allegedly securing illegal memberships. The expelled members had challenged the decision before various courts, but their petitions were dismissed, thereby upholding the institute’s decision. In June 2025, a development proposal was placed before the general body and later approved in the Special General Meeting (SGM). Following this, the expelled members, allegedly in collusion with a few existing members, began opposing the project.

The complaint alleged that false, defamatory, and threatening messages were being circulated through print, electronic, and social media platforms using fake identities, forged documents, virtual numbers, private networks, and international phone numbers to conceal the identity of the accused.

The office bearers and members have reportedly received threatening WhatsApp messages and calls, including threats intended to create fear and disharmony among members on community, linguistic, and regional lines. The complaint lists multiple threatening messages received between December 15, 2025, and January 16, 2026, including messages originating from international numbers, reportedly from Thailand.

The Bowring Institute has urged the police to identify the unknown persons involved, register a criminal case, conduct a cyber-forensic investigation, and take strict legal action. The police have registered an FIR against under various sections of the IT Act, 2000, and for criminal intimidation under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.

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