Unless you’ve completely tuned out the news cycle, you’ve probably heard the chatter about missing women and children in Delhi. Over the past few days, the issue has dominated conversations everywhere — from family WhatsApp groups to office discussions.
Reports claimed that in just the first 15 days of 2026, over 800 people went missing in the national capital — an average of 54 cases a day — with most of them being women and children. Adding to the confusion, some suggested that the surge in attention was linked to a promotional campaign for Mardaani 3, a film centred on human trafficking.
On Friday morning, the Delhi Police dismissed such narratives as rumours, alleging that hype around missing girls was being fuelled through paid promotions.
India Today Fact Check examined the claims and the official data to separate fact from fiction.
Do 54 people go missing every day in Delhi?
Yes. According to Delhi Police records, 807 missing person cases were registered between January 1 and January 15, 2026. That works out to an average of 54 cases per day.
While the figure sounds alarming, context matters. Delhi is one of the world’s most populous cities, with an estimated population of nearly two crore. Moreover, this number does not indicate a sudden spike. Data from the past five years shows that, on average, between 65 and 68 people were reported missing daily. In fact, the current figure reflects a slight dip compared to previous years, though it is based on a small time frame.
Are more women reported missing than men?
Yes. Police data shows that women consistently make up a larger share of missing persons. Over the past five years, nearly 60 per cent of those reported missing were women. The pattern appears to be continuing in 2026 as well — of the 807 cases recorded so far this year, 509 involve women and 298 involve men.
Which age group is most affected?
Teenagers between 12 and 18 years form a significant portion of missing cases year after year. However, not all such cases are linked to abduction or trafficking. Experts point out that reasons vary widely — from academic pressure and family disputes to elopement or simply leaving home without informing parents. Until they are traced, all such cases remain categorised as “missing.”
Are most missing persons eventually found?
Fortunately, a large number are. Police data shows that between 2021 and 2025, over 25,500 children aged 12–18 were reported missing. Of these, nearly 21,500 were traced, leaving around 4,000 untraced. Similar recovery trends are seen in other age groups as well, with most individuals eventually located or returning home.
What about the link to Mardaani 3?
Speculation gained traction because the film focuses on missing children, and its release coincided with the circulation of these reports. This led to conspiracy theories suggesting that the data was being amplified as part of a publicity campaign.
Yash Raj Films, which produced the movie, rejected the allegations. In a statement, the production house said it follows ethical and transparent practices and does not resort to such promotional tactics.
As for the Delhi Police’s claim that the reports were part of a paid promotion, India Today sought clarification and evidence to support the assertion. However, no response had been received at the time this report was filed.