The Delhi police have arrested a 21-year-old man from the Bhalswa Dairy area of north Delhi for spreading a hoax alert on social media concerning the G20 Summit, officials reported on Friday. The accused had claimed on social media that an auto-rickshaw carrying firearms and explosives was en route to the Pragati Maidan area, where the G20 Summit is taking place, news agency PTI reported.


In response to this alarming message, the Bhalswa Dairy police team swiftly took action, locating and apprehending the individual responsible for disseminating false information to the public.


A senior police officer told PTI that the official 'X' handle of the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Outer North was tagged in a post by a user named Kuldeep Sah. In this post, Sah asserted that "an auto-rickshaw driver was heading towards Pragati Maidan with firearms and explosives." Accompanying the post was a photograph of the auto-rickshaw in question.


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Given the sensitivity of the situation, the police conducted an investigation and identified the registered owner of the auto as Gurmeet Singh, a 50-year-old resident of SSN Park.


Upon further inquiry, it was revealed that the auto was being used by Harcharan Singh, a 48-year-old auto driver, to transport clothing materials in the Chandani Chowk area. Harcharan Singh also mentioned an ongoing dispute with Kuldeep Sah, his neighbor on the same street, regarding parking his auto, PTI reported.


After thorough verification, no suspicious items were found in the auto-rickshaw.


Kuldeep Sah, however, was located at his residence, and he acknowledged posting the message on 'X' through his handle. He claimed he did so because the auto driver had persistently parked the vehicle outside his home despite Sah's prior warnings.


The Delhi police confirmed that legal action is being taken against Sah for spreading false rumors related to the G20 Summit's security.


In a statement, the Delhi Police said, "Taking swift action on bomb threat hoax in #G20Summit area, #DelhiPolice’s P.S. Bhalswa Dairy team traced the accused and arrested him for spreading false information in public. Legal action is being taken."


The arrest comes at a time when the national capital is under heightened security measures for the two-day G20 Summit, which commences on Saturday.


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