June 11 (UPI) — Police in India said an animal spotted in the live broadcast of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s swearing-in ceremony was not a leopard, despite rumors on social media.
Viewers of the live broadcast on Monday saw a big cat walking in the background as Modi was sworn in for his third term at Rashtrapati Bhavan, the Prime Minister’s residence in Delhi, and some social media users said it appeared a leopard had entered the building.
The rumors were eventually reported by the news media, prompting the Delhi Police to respond on social media.
“Some media channels and social media are showing an image of an animal captured during the live telecast of the swearing-in ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan yesterday, claiming it to be a wild animal,” the police wrote. “These facts are not true. The animal captured on camera is a common domestic cat. Please do not adhere to such frivolous rumors.”
