CHENNAI: A 42-year-old casual labourer was arrested for issuing a hoax bomb threat to a temple and park within Maduravoyal police limits on Sunday.

The accused called the control room on Sunday morning and claimed that a bomb would explode at Pallavan Park and the nearby temple, the police said.

A team from Maduravoyal police station, along with Bomb Disposal and Defusal Squad, checked both locations and declared the call a hoax. Subsequently, the cybercrime police traced the call and found the accused, Boopathi (43) of Vikravandi Taluk, Villupuram district.

He works as a casual labourer in Chennai and claimed to have made the phone call in an inebriated condition. He was remanded in judicial custody.

On Sunday, city police secured a physically challenged man, Iyappan (36) of Tiruporur, for issuing a hoax bomb threat to the Chief Minister's residence.

Probe revealed that he is a serial offender and has been arrested for a similar offence earlier. However, considering his family situation, he was let off on station bail and was issued a strict warning.