Delhi Police call viral ‘missing girls’ claims 'paid promotion', warn of legal action

Delhi Police respond to viral claims on missing persons cases.(AI-generated representational pic)

Delhi Police on Friday pushed back strongly against viral social media claims suggesting a sharp surge in missing persons cases in the national capital, warning influencers and digital accounts against spreading what it described as paid and misleading content. The police said such narratives were creating unnecessary fear among residents of Delhi-NCR and would invite strict legal action.

In a post on X, Delhi Police said preliminary inquiries revealed that several viral posts amplifying the “missing girls” narrative were part of paid promotions. “Creating panic for monetary gains will not be tolerated. Strict action will be taken against those involved in fear-mongering,” the police stated.

After following a few leads, we discovered that the hype around the surge in missing girls in Delhi is being pushed through paid promotion. Creating panic for monetary gains won't be tolerated, and we'll take strict action against such individuals.

— Delhi Police (@DelhiPolice) February 6, 2026

Responding to multiple videos and posts circulating online, the force appealed to citizens not to fall for rumours about an alleged spike in missing children cases. While reiterating that child safety remains a top priority, Delhi Police cautioned that selective or distorted presentation of data was fuelling public anxiety. It warned that those misrepresenting facts to spread fear would face legal consequences.

The police emphasised that it operates round the clock to trace missing persons and reunite them with their families at the earliest. “The safety of every child is of paramount importance. We are fully committed to tracking all missing cases and supporting affected families,” the statement added.

Citing police data, news agency ANI reported that January 2026 recorded 1,777 missing cases, which is below Delhi’s monthly average of around 2,000 cases. The data further showed that since 2016, more than 1.8 lakh people have been traced and reunited with their families, indicating a recovery rate of approximately 77 per cent.

Earlier figures released by Delhi Police showed that 807 people were reported missing between January 1 and 15, including 191 minors and 509 women and girls. Acknowledging these numbers, police told PTI that overall trends for January 2026 reflect a decline compared to the same period in previous years.

The police reiterated that while every missing case is taken seriously, viral claims of an unprecedented surge are misleading and risk spreading panic. Authorities urged citizens to rely only on verified information and official data when discussing sensitive issues such as public safety.