Tharoor SMS threat: Forged papers used to buy SIM

New Delhi: Forged documents in the name of a city gym trainer were used by an unknown man to procure a SIM card from which "malicious" and "threatening" messages were sent to Union Minister Shashi Tharoor and others.

After tracing the number to west Delhi's Hari Nagar, police detained Manic Verma, the gym trainer at the elite Constitution Club but investigators found him an "innocent victim" and released him after lengthy interrogation. According to sources, the same number was also used to send a "filthy" SMS to senior CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Brinda Karat . Verma reportedly lost his driving licence years earlier.

However, sources said, it had come to light during investigations that the mobile number was procured using forged documents in the name of Verma.

The detention came following investigations after Tharoor's Officer on Special Duty Jacob Joseph received an SMS from the alleged 'henchmen' of Karachi-based underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, threatening the Minister to stay out of IPL Kochi team or to face death.

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Police had earlier received a complaint from Karat about a "filthy" SMS she had received.

Delhi Police spokesperson Rajan Bhagat said they registered separate cases in connection with Tharoor and Karat following the receipt of complaints.

According to sources, during interrogation,Verma told investigators that a police team from Sonepat had come to his west Delhi residence recently in connection with a probe into a "filthy" SMS sent from the same number. However, the investigations later cleared him.

Verma also told police he had lost his driving licence about seven years ago and had filed a complaint in this regard. Sources said Verma suspected that this licence was being misused by someone to procure the SIM card.

"As of now, it looks like Verma is innocent. He is also a victim. It appears that he has nothing to do with these text messages. Further investigations are on," a senior police official said.

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Soon after the news of Tharoor getting threat SMS became public, police sent a four-member team from Tuglaq Raod police station to the minister's 97-Lodhi Road residence and collected details from his office.

Later, an Inspector and Sub Inspector of elite Special Cell also visited the minister's residence and spoke to officials.