Purdue News

March 12, 2003 Student faces charge for allegedly sending e-mail bomb threat WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – A Purdue University student was arrested today (Wednesday, 3/12) for allegedly sending an e-mail in which he threatened to detonate a nuclear device on campus. Rajesh G. Manyar, 23, of 500 Russell St., West Lafayette, faces a preliminary charge of false informing. Manyar, a graduate student and research assistant in the Department of Chemistry, is an international student from India. Ron Fosnaugh, Purdue University Police Department captain of special services, said Manyar confessed to sending the e-mail threat on Friday (3/7) to the Office of the Vice President for Student Services. Manyar allegedly sent the threat by using another unsuspecting student's e-mail account, Fosnaugh said. The incident remains under investigation, and federal authorities have been notified about the threat and Manyar's arrest. "We have no reason to believe the student had the means to build such a bomb, but all threats are treated seriously and are vigorously investigated," Fosnaugh said. "Sending this threat was a serious error in judgment that will have serious consequences." Manyar was taken to Tippecanoe County Jail where he was being held on a $5,000 bond. Under Indiana law, false informing involves knowingly communicating erroneous information stating that an explosive device or weapon of mass destruction has been, or will be, placed in a building, transportation facility or place of assembly. False informing is a Class D felony, punishable by up to three years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. Writer: Brian Zink, (765) 494-2080, bzink@purdue.edu Source: Ron Fosnaugh, (765) 494-8221, rjfosnaugh@purdue.edu Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu To the Purdue News and Photos Page