A man detained for SMS threat to Tharoor

Earlier today Manik Verma (Nirmal Verma) was been detained by the police for suspicion of sending an SMS threat to minister of state for external affairs Shashi Tharoor, police sources said. A police officer source said that, "We have picked up Manik Verma (Nirmal Verma) from west Delhi for questioning. He has not yet been arrested," since the police have not received any official complaint from the minister. "Tharoor has not approached us with any complaint. We are making investigations on our own," added the police officer.

The SMS asked Tharoor to apologize to Indian Premier League (IPL) commissioner Lalit Modi over the Kochi IPL team standoff. The SMS sender claimed himself a member of notorious Chhota Shakeel gang.

In the morning, Tharoor has reportedly written to the Union Home Ministry about the death threat, following which his security has been tightened. Jacob Joseph, the officer on special duty with the minister, told the media that Tharoor had received the SMS threat and the home ministry and police have been alerted. Meanwhile he did not disclose the SMS content.

(image courtesy: Mid Day)

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