- Friday, April 18, 2025
By: Vibhuti Pathak
A shocking visual of a hand dangling out from the boot of a moving car sent shockwaves through Navi Mumbai on Monday evening. Captured by a resident near the Vashi-Sanpada stretch, the video quickly spread across social media and local WhatsApp groups, raising fears of a possible abduction or worse — a dead body being transported in broad daylight.
The unsettling footage, recorded around 6:45 pm, shows a car moving steadily while a limp hand is seen sticking out of the partially closed boot. The eerie sight immediately triggered panic among viewers, some of whom reported it to the authorities. Within minutes, the Navi Mumbai Police and the crime branch sprung into action, launching a full-fledged operation to trace the vehicle.
As per police reports, the car was finally located near Ghatkopar at approximately 8:30 pm. To everyone’s surprise, the car was not part of any criminal activity — instead, it was part of a bizarre promotional stunt for a laptop deal.
Hand Seen Hanging from Moving Car in Navi Mumbai – Viral Video Sparks Panic#navimumbai #viralvídeo pic.twitter.com/Agd98qkREf
— Oneindia News (@Oneindia) April 16, 2025
According to Assistant Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch) Ajay Landge, three boys from Mumbai had driven to Navi Mumbai to attend a wedding. While there, they decided to shoot a short reel to promote their laptop offer on social media. The concept? Startle viewers with a “dead body” teaser and then pivot to a humorous product pitch.
The footage they shot was scripted: a biker stops the car and asks the driver to open the boot after spotting the hand. The boot opens to reveal the “lifeless” boy springing up and saying, “Got afraid? But am not dead. Am alive. However, listen to the amazing offer that we have on laptops!”
While their intentions were promotional, the unintended consequence of spreading fear among the public and engaging police resources landed them in trouble. The police confirmed that all the footage recorded for the reel had been recovered and reviewed. There were no criminal elements involved, but an official inquiry was still underway.
At the time of reporting, no FIR had been filed, but the police continued questioning the individuals to ensure there was no malicious intent or safety violation. The bizarre nature of the stunt has reignited discussions around responsible content creation in the age of viral reels and digital marketing.
The incident serves as a reminder that while social media offers a powerful platform for creativity, it also demands responsibility and awareness of public sentiment — especially in sensitive times. What was intended to be a clever marketing move nearly turned into a criminal investigation.
