NHRC Probes Delhi Missing Persons Data Amid Mardaani 3 Media Controversy

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India , has taken suo motu cognizance of media reports based on Delhi Police data showing 807 people went missing in the national capital during the first two weeks of January 2026 . Of these, 191 were minors and 616 were adults , and only 235 have been traced , leaving 572 still untraced . The Commission noted that, if accurate, the report raises serious concerns regarding human rights violations, and has issued notices to the Chief Secretary of the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi and the Commissioner of Police, Delhi, requesting a detailed report within two weeks.

The initial report, carried by PTI , was widely republished by numerous reputed media organizations. However, the dissemination of the story, combined with online speculation linking it to the promotion of the Bollywood film Mardaani 3 , triggered panic among citizens , with some suggesting the missing persons narrative was being used as a paid promotional stunt for the film.

In response to these allegations, Yash Raj Films (YRF) , the studio behind Mardaani 3 , strongly denied any involvement in orchestrating the news for publicity purposes, emphasizing the company’s commitment to ethical marketing and sensitivity toward social issues.

Delhi Police also clarified that while paid promotional activity was identified driving some social media amplification of the story , there is no evidence linking the official film promotion to the missing persons reports. Authorities stressed that the daily number of missing persons in early January 2026 is consistent with historical trends, and that tracing and recovery efforts remain ongoing.

The NHRC’s action follows a report dated 5 February 2026 , which highlighted that in 2025, over 24,500 individuals went missing in Delhi , with about 60 per cent being women . Of these, 15,421 were traced , while 9,087 cases remained unresolved . The data also indicated persistent vulnerability among teenagers, especially girls, with over 5,000 minors going missing annually since 2016 .

The controversy underscores the critical role of responsible reporting , the risks of misinformation, and the need for media organizations to exercise caution when publishing sensitive human rights-related data . The NHRC continues to focus on understanding the circumstances of the missing persons cases, assessing systemic responses, and ensuring measures are in place to protect vulnerable populations in Delhi.