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The shocking context

The incident draws strings from heartbreak, digital deception, public terror and aviation tragedy. According to police in India, a Chennai-based robotics engineer, Rene Joshilda, allegedly crafted a campaign of hoax bomb threats across multiple states and, in one of the most audacious elements, claimed responsibility for a high-profile air crash — all in an attempt to frame her former colleague Divij Prabhakar.

She reportedly used fake email IDs (some in Prabhakar’s name), VPNs, dark­web tools, virtual phone numbers, and a highly modular scheme of digital impersonation to spread panic and mislead authorities.

One of the key emails read:

“I think now you know power. Like we sent you mail yesterday we crashed the Air India plane with our former CM. … Now you know we are not playing.”

This message was sent to the administration of a medical college in Ahmedabad, soon after a flight crash in the city. The authorities treat it as a false claim — but its chilling nature ramped the investigation into high gear.

What we do know

Here are stronger facts, based on public reporting:

  • Rene Joshilda is described as a robotics‐engineering graduate, working as a senior consultant at a multinational firm in Chennai since 2022.
  • She was arrested by the Gujarat Cyber Crime unit (in association with other state forces) for allegedly sending dozens of bomb-threat emails to schools, hospitals, stadiums and other public venues across 11-12 Indian states.
  • Her motive, according to police statements, was a one-sided love/obsession with Divij Prabhakar, who rejected her advances and married someone else earlier in the year; prosecutors say the campaign aimed to vilify or frame him.
  • In particular, she is alleged to have created fake email IDs in Prabhakar’s name, and used them to send threatening messages, thereby laying a digital trail intended to lead back to him.
  • The false claim of responsibility for the crash of the Air India flight (in Ahmedabad) apparently heightened the urgency of the investigation and provided the authorities a turning point.

What we don’t know / what remains uncertain

This does not appear to be a case where the crash was actually caused by her actions. The claim to have “crashed the plane” appears to have been a hoax/threat, not a verified admission of causing the aviation accident. The police narrative is that her email falsely claimed responsibility.

Details of the crash investigation into the flight itself (technical cause, mechanical failure or other factors) are still ongoing, or at least not fully public in the sources consulted.

While police describe her motive and the framing attempt, court proceedings, evidence details and defence arguments are not yet comprehensively covered in the public articles available.

The identity and status of Divij Prabhakar beyond the police narrative are limited in media reporting; the full extent of his involvement (if any) remains largely unreported beyond the alleged framing attempt.

Why this matters

  1. Digital manipulation at scale: The case illustrates how sophisticated digital tools (VPNs, dark web, fake identities, virtual phone numbers) were allegedly used to craft a campaign of terror-hoaxes. The fact that one individual reportedly sent threats across 11+ states shows vulnerabilities of public systems to non-traditional cyber threats.
  2. Emotional motive, criminal scale: The alleged motive — unrequited love → revenge → digital terror campaign — highlights how personal motive can escalate into broader public harm. What began (according to police) with a personal grudge evolved into actions that triggered panic in schools, stadiums, hospitals.
  3. Framing / misdirection: The attempt to frame an innocent (or at least someone who was not publicly charged with the crash) by spoofing his identity draws attention to issues of identity theft, impersonation and digital forensics — especially when the target is a colleague in a workplace scenario.
  4. Crash claim amplification: By claiming responsibility for the air crash, the hoaxer invoked one of the most serious public tragedies imaginable — elevating the threat level, sowing fear and complicating investigations. The crash provided her with a dramatic “hook” for her campaign of terror.
  5. Implications for aviation and public safety: Although this appears to be a false claim about the crash, it underscores how aviation disasters can become fodder for misinformation, malicious claims or hoaxes. It reminds us that beyond the tragedy of mechanical failure or human error, there is vulnerability to false attribution and public panic.

The human dimension

Behind the digital forensics and threat emails lies a human story of obsession, rejection and destructive response. According to police, Rene Joshilda fell for Divij Prabhakar while they worked together, but her feelings were not reciprocated. When he married someone else, she allegedly shifted from hurt to anger to something far darker.

Her professional credentials (engineering, senior consultant role) suggest that this was not a naive prankster—it is reported she understood her tools and used them with intent. Yet the same intellect was applied to malice. That twist—a technically capable person, emotionally wounded, using her skills for revenge—makes the story especially unsettling.

Moreover, the ripple effect: schools evacuated, bomb squads called, institutions on high alert. The victims, in many cases, were innocent bystanders. All of this because of a private grievance turned public menace.

Broader questions & take-aways

  • How did she evade detection so long? The reports emphasise her use of dark web tools, VPNs, anonymised servers and virtual numbers. It’s a reminder that cybercrime has matured far beyond simple email spam.
  • What protections were lacking? The fact that bomb-threat emails could trigger large-scale panic across multiple states suggests that institutions may still be vulnerable to coordinated threat campaigns.
  • What will the crash investigation reveal? While this hoax campaign does not appear to explain the cause of the crash, the crash itself remains a separate tragedy with its own investigation. Separating fact from hoax is essential.
  • Legal and forensic readiness: Tracking down a person using anonymisation tools is complex; ultimately, a “mistake” (logging in from same device) led investigators to her. This shows how even sophisticated perpetrators leave traces.
  • Mental health / workplace dynamics: The underlying personal grievance raises questions about workplace relationships, mental health, rejection and how individuals may respond under emotional pressure.
  • Media vs reality: While the media reports are numerous and consistent, we must remember that court proceedings may still refine or challenge aspects of the story. The blog should treat the narrative as updated to date, with some caution.

Closing reflection

This case is a potent mix of tragedy and terror. A major airplane crash already shakes a nation; layering on a hoax claim tied to that crash amplifies the shock. The fact that personal vendetta could trigger a campaign of terror threats is chilling.

For the public, the lesson is clear: digital tools can empower both protection and destruction. For organisations (schools, hospitals, airports), the lesson is that threat-preparedness cannot only be about physical security—but also about upstream cyber/identity threats, impersonation, and coordinated hoaxes.

For individuals, the story warns: when professional life, personal emotions and digital skills collide without proper boundaries or support, the result can be catastrophic.

I’ll keep tracking for updates (court proceedings, forensic findings, official statements) and can update the blog when more emerges.