**India to Investigate Google Over Extensive Network of Gmail Accounts Linked to Bomb Hoaxes**
India is set to question Google regarding a significant network of 513,847 Gmail accounts that were uncovered during an investigation into recent bomb threats directed at government offices and nations involved in the BRICS Summit held in New Delhi. The police in Gujarat, a western Indian state, made this discovery following the arrest of two individuals connected to the threats.
The investigation revealed that the database of email credentials was linked to bomb threats targeting the Gujarat Legislative Assembly, the offices of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Home Minister Amit Shah, as well as threats sent to ten schools and three courts within the state. Notably, Gujarat is the home state of both Modi and Shah. After thorough investigation, authorities determined that the threats were hoaxes.
The arrests were made after Roshan Kumar Bhumihar, one of the suspects apprehended in Bhagalpur, Bihar, led police to Gulshan Kumar Singh in Deoghar, Jharkhand. Singh is accused of supplying the Gmail accounts used to send the threats. Both individuals were arrested, and the devices used to transmit these threats were confiscated by law enforcement.
According to police reports, Singh had been generating Gmail accounts in bulk since 2022, providing them as ready-to-use accounts for various malicious activities. Investigators expressed surprise at the sheer volume of accounts created and the apparent ability to operate them without detection by Google's security systems. Vivek Bheda, a senior official in the Gujarat Police cybercrime unit, indicated that they plan to reach out to Google to request policy changes that would prevent such safeguards from being bypassed in the future.
In addition to questioning Google, the police plan to formally include the tech giant in their investigation, although it remains uncertain whether Google will face any legal charges as a result of the findings. The Gmail accounts were reportedly created specifically for sending threats and conducting other cybercrimes. Investigators have also identified connections between the suspects and associates in Bangladesh, who allegedly provided financial support. One of the arrested individuals was reportedly in contact with a buyer in Bangladesh who purchased batches of the email accounts, with some transactions made using cryptocurrency.
This incident highlights ongoing concerns regarding cybersecurity and the potential misuse of digital platforms for criminal activities. As the investigation unfolds, authorities are focusing on understanding the methods used to create and manage such a large number of email accounts without detection, as well as the broader implications for online security and accountability among tech companies.