Thane, Apr 15: Four people have been detained by Navi Mumbai Police for staging a fake crime scene to create sensational social media content, officials said Tuesday.
The stunt involved a white car parked in Sanpada on Monday night with a human hand visibly sticking out of its trunk. The alarming scene, captured in a viral video and photo, led a concerned citizen to alert the police, fearing a possible abduction or murder.
Police swiftly traced the vehicle and detained the driver along with three others. One of the accused owns a laptop shop in Koparkhairne and admitted that the act was staged to create a reel promoting his business.
“They confessed it was a dramatized shoot aimed at drawing social media attention,” a crime branch officer said, adding that the stunt was reckless and caused unnecessary panic.
A case has been registered under Section 184 of the Motor Vehicles Act for rash and dangerous driving. Authorities have urged content creators to act responsibly and avoid stunts that could incite fear or simulate real crimes.