Animal spotted at Modi Government oath ceremony house cat, not leopard

NEW DELHI: During the oath-taking ceremony of the Modi Government at Rashtrapati Bhawan, an animal initially believed to be a leopard turned out to be a house cat, according to the Delhi Police on Monday.

The animal was spotted on the staircase while BJP MP Durga Das Uikey was taking his oath. The video quickly circulated on social media, with claims suggesting a leopard had been seen during the ceremony.

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However, the Delhi Police clarified on X that the reports were inaccurate. “Some media channels and social media handles are showing an animal image captured during the live telecast of the oath-taking ceremony, claiming it to be a wild animal,” the police stated. “These facts are not true. The animal captured on camera is a common house cat. Please don’t adhere to such frivolous rumours.”

The incident occurred while President Droupadi Murmu was administering the oath, and the brief appearance of the animal in the background drew significant attention. Delhi Police officials confirmed that only dogs and domestic cats reside within the presidential palace.

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The event, attended by 8,000 guests, took place in the brightly lit forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhawan. The sighting of the animal walking past a columned corridor sparked a range of reactions on social media, with one user humorously commenting, “Free Safari Experience for Guests at Oath Ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhawan.”

To curb further speculation, the Delhi Police reiterated on X that claims of a wild animal at the ceremony were unfounded. “Claims of a wild animal at the ceremony are false. It was not wild. Ignore such baseless rumors,” they emphasized.

Security at the event was managed by the Delhi Police.