By Tim Binnall
An Indian man finds himself in trouble with the law after he faked a tiger sighting that sparked panic in a village. According to a local media report, the strange case occurred last week when Jerin Abraham took to social media with a video of what he claimed was a big cat roaming around the town of Karuvarakundu. The footage of the feline was subsequently broadcast on several television stations, raising concerns among residents of the community understandably fearful of encountering the ferocious creature. However, when authorities looked into the worrisome matter, they quickly determined that it was all a misguided hoax.
Wildlife officials investigating the case initially grew suspicious when they visited the location and found no tiger tracks nor any security footage that could confirm the creature's presence at the time of the sighting. A closer examination of the footage that sparked the panic found that it had actually been posted on YouTube three years ago and that he had simply repurposed the video on his own social media account. Presented with the evidence uncovered by authorities, Abraham admitted to faking the sighting that had likely gotten far more attention than anticipated. The hoaxer was subsequently arrested for "triggering public panic and misleading the officials engaged in emergency services in the area."