Student held for threat email to President Patil, Sonia

Kochi (Kerala) Oct 31 (IANS) A 23-year-old engineering student Arun Surya was arrested here for sending an email in which he threatened to assassinate President Pratibha Patil and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi on or before Nov 14.

'The e-mail was sent from a cyber cafe here at 2.30 p.m. Oct 24 by the newly created email id in the name of Manisha Manohar, who was a friend of Surya,' Kochi Police Commissioner Manoj Abraham said here Friday.

'Surya has no previous criminal history, and he sent the email on the spur of the moment,' Abraham said.

Media reports indicate that Surya and the girl were friends and they fell apart for some reason and in a fit of rage Surya sent the email.

'He hails from a good family and it (sending the email) was done without knowing the consequences. His parents are bank officials,' Abraham added.

The email also said that bombs would go off in four cities, including Kochi.

The police have charged Surya under the IT Act and he is likely to be produced before the court here Saturday.