Passenger’s fake theft claim at Delhi Airport with communal colour debunked by CISF
Media outlets amplify false communal claim without verifying or including official response
New Delhi: A passenger’s baseless claim of theft at Delhi Airport with communal colour has been debunked by the CISF. Dr Tushar Mehta, claiming to be an orthopaedic surgeon, had alleged on X that his Apple Watch was stolen after a security check at Terminal 3 of Delhi Airport. He accused two individuals, identified as Shoaib and Md Saqib, of being involved in the alleged theft, with one of them reportedly working at the Helios store in the terminal.
In his now-deleted tweet, Dr Mehta claimed that after placing his watch in a security tray, he realised it was missing upon crossing the scanner. He alleged that he confronted an individual, forcibly retrieved his watch from the person’s pocket, and accused the Helios store staff member of collusion. He further criticised the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel for their response, claiming they defended the accused and demanded an apology for his "rude behaviour."
Dr Mehta’s tweet quickly gained attention and was amplified by several news outlets without verifying the facts or seeking a response from the authorities.
CISF investigation debunks claims
The CISF, upon noticing the allegations, conducted a detailed investigation by reviewing CCTV footage. The footage revealed that Dr Mehta had taken his watch from the security tray himself and worn it before proceeding to the boarding gate. There was no evidence of interaction with any CISF personnel or suspicious behaviour by other individuals.
In its official statement, the CISF clarified, "The review of the CCTV has contradicted the sequence of events as narrated. After the security check, the passenger was seen wearing the watch and heading to the boarding gate without any interaction with CISF personnel. Posting such unsubstantiated messages creates unnecessary apprehension in the minds of passengers, hence avoidable."
Delhi Airport authorities also corroborated the CISF’s findings, emphasising that passenger safety and security are their top priorities.
Spread of misinformation
Despite the clarification by the CISF and Delhi Airport, the unverified claims were widely circulated by several media outlets, including propaganda platform @OpIndia_com, which republished the allegations without incorporating the official response. This further amplified the misinformation, contributing to unnecessary panic and divisive narratives.
Dr Mehta’s accusations specifically named individuals with Muslim names, raising concerns about the intent behind his statements. Critics on social media accused him of attempting to propagate communal narratives under the guise of a theft allegation. Following the debunking of his claims, Dr Mehta deleted his tweet.
Here are a few News reports based on his X post. How can propaganda outlet Opindia not report about it. pic.twitter.com/F4GcYAQXwC
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Bus driver suffers heart attack while driving near Madikeri; passengers escape unhurt
Madikeri: A private bus travelling from Bengaluru on Thursday, on May 7, tilted into drain near Talathmane, close to Madikeri, after the driver suffered a heart attack while driving.
According to Asianet News, the incident occurred around 5 am on Thursday, when the driver experienced a severe heart attack but managed to steer the bus toward the side of the road before losing control. The bus tilted into a roadside drain and came to a stop. All passengers were safe.
The driver was taken to a hospital in Madikeri, where he is undergoing treatment. His health condition is reported to be serious.
The Madikeri traffic police visited the spot and inspected the area.
