Surat Courts Evacuated After Bomb Threat Emails as State Reshuffles Municipal Commissioner

Gujarat judicial premises were placed on high alert after emails claimed RDX explosives had been planted inside courts in both Ahmedabad and Surat, prompting security agencies to launch investigations into the threats. On the administrative front, the state government announced a sweeping reshuffle of senior IAS officers, appointing a new municipal commissioner to lead Surat's civic administration. Meanwhile, Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya joined Gujarat's Deputy Chief Minister and top athletes for the 89th edition of Fit India's Sundays on Cycle in Surat, where youth were administered a Nasha Mukt drug-free pledge.

🗳️ Bomb Threat Emails Target Gujarat Courts in Ahmedabad and Surat

Gujarat courts received alarming email threats in early September 2026, with the messages claiming that RDX bombs had been planted inside court premises in both Ahmedabad and Surat. The threats sent security agencies into immediate action, placing both court complexes on high alert. Officials confirmed that security agencies were examining all aspects of the threat and conducting thorough checks of the premises in response to the emailed warning. The source of the emails and the authenticity of the threat were also placed under investigation, with authorities working to trace the origin of the messages. The incident underscored ongoing concerns about security at public institutions across Gujarat's major cities. Court staff and visitors were alerted as part of the precautionary measures taken following the threat emails. Investigators focused on determining whether the bomb threat constituted a genuine danger or was an attempt to cause panic and disruption at judicial facilities. The discovery prompted heightened security protocols across court premises in Surat as the investigation into the threatening emails got underway, with the Representative Image published by The New Indian Express capturing the gravity of the situation. [2]

🗳️ Gujarat IAS Reshuffle Appoints Rajkumar Beniwal as Surat's New Municipal Commissioner

The Gujarat government issued a major administrative reshuffle notification through the General Administration Department in Gandhinagar in early September 2026, shifting senior Indian Administrative Service officers across key departments and corporations. The most consequential move for Surat was the appointment of Shri Rajkumar Beniwal, a 2004-batch Gujarat-cadre IAS officer identified as RR:GJ:2004, as the city's new Municipal Commissioner. Beniwal previously served as the Managing Director of Gujarat Narmada Valley Fertilizers and Chemicals Ltd., known as GNVFC, based in Bharuch. With his transfer to Surat, Sanjeev Kumar was given additional charge as the GNVFC Managing Director to fill that vacancy. The reshuffle extended across multiple departments and functions: Rajesh Manjhu was posted to head the Stamps and Registration department, while Jenu Devan was designated Revenue Inspection Commissioner. Remya Mohan Muthadath was assigned responsibility for Housing and Nirmal Gujarat, and Rachit Raj was named Director of Tribal Development. Harshil R. Meena was posted as the District Development Officer for Mehsana. The notification from Gandhinagar reflected a wide-ranging realignment touching urban civic bodies, revenue operations, and major state-run enterprises simultaneously, signalling a significant reconfiguration of Gujarat's senior bureaucratic leadership at the district and departmental level. [4]

🤝 Sports Minister and Gujarat Deputy CM Cycle Through Surat for Fit India's Drug-Free Drive

Surat hosted the 89th edition of Fit India's Sundays on Cycle initiative on September 6, 2026, drawing participation from Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, Gujarat's Deputy Chief Minister, and top athletes from across the country. The event was part of a continuing national series promoting fitness and cycling culture among citizens of all ages. During the gathering, participants administered the Nasha Mukt pledge to youth attending the event, reinforcing the government's commitment to drug-free living and healthy lifestyles among young people in Surat. Sports Minister Mandaviya addressed those assembled, lending high-profile ministerial visibility to what has grown into a regular fixture on the city's civic calendar. The presence of Gujarat's Deputy Chief Minister alongside elite athletes amplified the event's reach and public impact, combining the appeal of sporting role models with a civic message directed squarely at the city's youth. The Sundays on Cycle programme operates as part of the broader Fit India movement, and the Surat edition's 89th iteration demonstrated the sustained momentum and institutional backing behind the programme in one of Gujarat's most prominent commercial and civic cities. A photograph from the event showed Sports Minister Mandaviya speaking from the stage, captured by PIB MYAS. [1]

Sources: [2] The New Indian Express · [4] GujaratSamachar English · [1] aninews.in