Cops warn against sharing Delhi video as Nerul robbery

NAVI MUMBAI: After close to a month of fake WhatsApp message taking rounds claiming a Delhi robbery to be of Nerul, police have now decided to take action if they find anyone circulating the video with an intention to create panic.

The CCTV being circulated is from Delhi’s Uttam Nagar robbery while on WhatsApp groups, it’s being circulated as that of Balaji Tower in Nerul. The footage shows a group of men entering a house normally before suddenly taking three people in the living room hostage at gunpoint and knifepoint. One of the miscreants can be seen tying the hands of one of the members.

The WhatsApp message being circulated with the footage says, ‘Four delivery boys separately entered a society with the pretext to deliver parcels in different flats. All four were actually part of the same gang. Searched for an open door flat, barged in and looted the residents. Home camera captures the ordeal. This happened in Balaji Tower, Nerul, Navi Mumbai. Ensure the Security of your Apartment, CCTV are more vigilant’ (sic).

Senior police inspector, Shyam Shinde, from Nerul police station said, “For almost a month, people have been sending me the footage and asking if it happened in Nerul. Even senior officials have received such forwards. While it’s good that most of them are trying to verify before forwarding it blindly, there are also people who are not doing the same. The set of people who are forwarding such messages blindly could get booked for spreading the fake message and creating panic. Hence, I would appeal to people to stop falling prey to such WhatsApp forwards.”