Last Updated:April 10, 2026, 15:11 IST
Bengaluru Viral ‘Zombie Drug’ Video: The accused, Hemanth of Vidyaranyapura, was arrested after the video went viral on Instagram, triggering widespread public alarm.
Bengaluru City Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh warned that sharing misleading videos with false captions carries legal consequences. (X/@harishupadhya)
A Bengaluru resident has been arrested for circulating a video falsely claiming a man was under the influence of a dangerous “zombie drug.” Police clarified the individual had consumed liquor while on arthritis medication.
The accused, Hemanth of Vidyaranyapura, was arrested by Bagalur Police after the video went viral on Instagram, triggering widespread public alarm.
What Was The Viral Video About?
A video showing a man behaving erratically in a public place began circulating on Instagram with captions claiming he had consumed a so-called “zombie drug” — a dangerous new narcotic allegedly spreading in Bengaluru.
Bengaluru Police arrest a man & confirm the viral “zombie drug” video was FAKESocial media is full of clickbait handles, peddling lies just to go viral, tarnishing #Bengaluru‘s image.
I’m against policing opinions. But ppl spreading fake panic for views should be behind bars. pic.twitter.com/olwNDqjJiI
— Harish Upadhya (@harishupadhya) April 10, 2026
The clip spread rapidly across social media platforms, with users sharing it widely and speculating about the presence of new narcotics in the city, triggering considerable panic among residents.
Who Posted It And Why Was He Arrested?
The video was recorded and uploaded by Hemanth, a resident of Vidyaranyapura, approximately two days before his arrest. Bagaluru Police registered a case at Bagalur Police Station for spreading misinformation and traced the origin of the video to Hemanth.
He was subsequently arrested for circulating unverified and misleading content that caused public alarm.
What Did Police Find?
Bengaluru City Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh clarified that the man seen in the video was not under the influence of narcotics.
A police inquiry and medical examination revealed that the individual had consumed liquor and was taking prescribed medication for arthritis — a combination that explained his erratic behaviour.
What Did The Police Commissioner Say?
Condemning the spread of rumours, Commissioner Singh said: “He was subjected to medical examination. Unnecessarily putting it on Instagram without verification of facts, giving it the name of drugs, and attributing it to general conditions in Bengaluru — claiming that people are consuming this drug — is totally illegal.”
He added that neither the police nor the public should draw conclusions about drug use without proper medical confirmation.
What Is The Larger Warning Here?
The episode is a pointed reminder of how quickly unverified social media content can spiral into public panic.
Police have made clear that sharing misleading videos with false captions — particularly those that malign a city’s safety or attribute medical conditions to drug abuse — carries legal consequences.
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First Published:
April 10, 2026, 15:11 IST
News cities bengaluru-news Fact Check: ‘Motionless’ Bengaluru Man Not On ‘Zombie Drug’ — Had Liquor With Arthritis MedicationDisclaimer: Comments reflect users’ views, not News18’s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
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