Delhi Police have uncovered a shocking attempt to exploit fear for publicity. Reports of 807 missing people in Delhi, 509 of them women and girls, including 191 minors, circulating online in early January 2026, were deliberately exaggerated and promoted just as Rani Mukerjee’s Mardaani 3 hit theaters.
Investigations reveal that these alarming claims were part of a paid promotional campaign, designed to generate hype for the film, which deals with human trafficking and missing girls.
Joint Commissioner of Police (PR) Sanjay Tyagi called out the misinformation, stating that the numbers were consistent with previous years and, in fact, lower than normal.
Official data shows 1,777 cases reported in January 2026, fewer than the monthly average of over 2,000 in 2024 and 2025. Most of the reported “missing” individuals had already returned home or were traced.
Authorities confirmed that the so-called “surge” in missing girls was fabricated and amplified by influencers through sponsored posts. Delhi Police issued a stern warning on X.
https://x.com/DelhiPolice/status/2019631225884012897?s=20
“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,” the post said.
Investigators emphasized that no trafficking network or organized criminal gang was involved. The viral posts had misrepresented routine missing-person reports as a citywide crisis, intentionally stoking fear among the public.
Yash Raj Films (YRF), producers of Mardaani 3, have denied any involvement. However, the timing of the viral misinformation raises serious ethical concerns about marketing strategies exploiting sensitive social issues for commercial gain.
Political commentators have condemned the campaign. BJP IT Cell Head Amit Malviya tweeted, “The claim that ‘so many children have gone missing from Delhi’ is being spread through a paid campaign to promote a Hindi film. The Delhi Police will obviously follow this up to its logical conclusion.”
This episode exposes how easily public fear can be engineered and sold in the digital age. Sensitive issues were transformed into viral content, turning genuine concern into a tool for commercial gain.
Delhi Police have warned that such deliberate misinformation will not be tolerated. The case stands as a reminder that fear should never be used as a marketing strategy, and those who profit from panic shall be held accountable.