Lucknow residents were left shocked after a post showing leopards roaming around the city went viral on social media. The image, reportedly from areas like Ashiana, Ruchi Khand and Gomti Nagar, caused panic among locals, as many believed the wild animals had entered residential zones. The forest department quickly began an investigation to track the animals. But the truth turned out to be something no one expected. After checking the videos carefully, officials discovered that the leopard visuals were fake and was created using artificial intelligence (AI).
A youth was later arrested for editing and spreading the clips online to make them look real. Authorities have now confirmed that there were no leopards in the city and the reported sightings
were completely fabricated.
Fake Leopard Sighting Creates Chaos In Lucknow
As per Hindustan Times, frightened by the viral videos, many residents began checking their home CCTV footage to see if a leopard had really passed by their houses. Some parents refused to let their children go outside, while others even kept their kids home from school because of the fear. The panic pushed the police and wildlife officials to step in and inspect the areas mentioned in the videos. They carefully searched the neighbourhoods and checked CCTV recordings from several houses and shops nearby to confirm whether a wild animal had actually been there.
A guy from Lucknow used AI to add a leopard to his photo and posted it online, saying, “Spotted near my house.”
It went super viral, people got scared, and even the forest team came running—only to find out it was fake.
Now he’s in jail for the prank! 😅 pic.twitter.com/LnP7I9hyfH
— Ghar Ke Kalesh (@gharkekalesh) October 28, 2025
Reacting to the post, a user wrote, “The government should frame a policy that any AI-generated audio, video, or image should be labelled with a disclaimer indicating that it’s AI-generated or assisted. This will prevent much confusion and misinformation.”
Another shared, “AI can generate images, but it can’t generate bail money. Maybe use those skills to build an income stream instead of a police record.”
“Bro took AI-generated content way too seriously! From Photoshop to Handcuffshop real quick,” a comment read.
An individual stated, “I love pranks which hurt the pranksters.”
Another mentioned, “The guy now fully understands that AI should be used only for study purposes, not for pranks.”
One more added, “AI is in the wrong hands.”
Youth Arrested Sharing Fake Leopard Footage Online
After a detailed investigation, officials confirmed that there were no leopards in the area and the viral video was completely fake. It had been made using AI and was not taken from any real CCTV camera. During their search, the forest department also found no paw marks, fur or any other proof of a wild animal nearby.
The police later detained a young man for spreading the video and during questioning, he admitted to making the AI-generated clips. A formal complaint has been filed at the Ashiana police station and further action will be taken later.
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