'Leopard or cat?': Video of animal spotted at PM Modi's swearing-in ceremony is viral. Delhi Police clarifies

In one instance, the animal was seen in the background as BJP MP Durga Das Uikey greets President Droupadi Murmu after completing the oath procedure. (Image credit: @Indian_Analyzer/X)

An animal spotted during the third swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Sunday has confused social media users and triggered a big cat vs leopard debate. A video showing the animal for a split second in the background as BJP MP Durga Das Uikey greets President Droupadi Murmu after completing the oath procedure, is now viral.

Several users contended that the animal was a "big" pet cat, while others contended that it was a leopard going by its size and gait.

An animal was seen strolling back in the Rashtrapati Bhavan after MP Durga Das finished the paperwork

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~ Some say it was a LEOPARD while others call it some pet animal. Have a look pic.twitter.com/owu3ZXacU3

— The Analyzer (News Updates) (@Indian_Analyzer) June 10, 2024

"By its size it definitely looks like a leopard," an X user said, while another added, "Seems a damn leopard due to tail and gait. People were really lucky it peacefully passed."

A third user shared another video of the event where the animal was spotted again. "You can notice it here as well in the first five seconds, probably a domesticated cat," he said.

you can notice it here as well in the first 5 seconds, probably a domesticated cat https://t.co/16TRSCTbvD

— rishi. (@rishiirs_) June 10, 2024

Then there were some who suggested it was a dog. "Likely a sniffer dog with security forces," commented another user.

However, Delhi Police later clarified that the animal captured in the video was not any wild animal, it was rather a common house cat. In a post on X. Delhi Police said, "Some media channels and social media handles are showing an animal image captured during the live telecast of the oath-taking ceremony held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan yesterday, claiming it to be a wild animal. These facts are not true, the animal captured on camera is a common house cat. Please don't adhere to such frivolous rumours."

Some media channels and social media handles are showing an animal image captured during the live telecast of oath taking ceremony held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan yesterday, claiming it to be a wild animal.

— Delhi Police (@DelhiPolice) June 10, 2024

More than 8,000 people had packed into the Rashtrapati Bhavan forecourt as Narendra Modi was sworn in as the Prime Minister for a third consecutive term.

Also part of the event were actors Anil Kapoor, Anupam Kher, Raveena Tandon, Vikrant Massey, singer Anuradha Paudwal, director Rajkumar Hirani and producer Mahaveer Jain.

While Shah Rukh was accompanied by his manager Pooja Dadlani, Rajinikanth took part in the event with producer-wife Latha Rajinikanth.