New Delhi: A social media user from Nagaland, whose claim of sending 150 pizzas to students protesting at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar went viral, has apologised after admitting that the pizza bill he shared was not genuine.
In a statement posted on Instagram, the user acknowledged that the receipt was fabricated to encourage support for the student protests but admitted that presenting it as a genuine bill was a mistake that misled many people.
Admits bill was not genuine
In his clarification, the user said the pizza bill shared on social media was not an actual receipt.
He stated that the post was intended to inspire acts of kindness and encourage people to support students participating in the protest.
However, he admitted that many people believed the bill was authentic and accepted full responsibility for creating the confusion.
He further said that although his intentions were positive, he now understood that good intentions did not justify creating or sharing misleading content.
Apologises for misleading people
The social media user said he never intended to deceive the public, damage anyone’s reputation or trigger unnecessary controversy.
He apologised to everyone who felt disappointed or misled by the viral post and accepted responsibility for publishing the original content.
He also clarified that several large social media pages had reposted his post without his permission, contributing to its widespread circulation.
Clarifies use of donations
Addressing concerns regarding donations, the user said people who contributed through the QR code shared with the post had been informed that the money would be used to support the protesting students.
According to him, more than Rs 12,000 has been collected so far.
He claimed that Rs 5,000 had already been sent through a friend to purchase biscuits for the students and said he possessed proof of the transaction.
He also assured donors that the remaining funds would be utilised transparently for the benefit of the protesters and that evidence of the expenditure would be shared.
Earlier claim had gone viral
The clarification follows the widespread circulation of the user’s earlier claim that he had ordered 150 Domino’s pizzas for students protesting at Jantar Mantar over the alleged NEET examination irregularities.
The post, accompanied by what appeared to be a bill for more than Rs 67,000, was widely praised on social media as an act of solidarity with the demonstrators.
Following his latest statement, the user has clarified that while the bill was fabricated, his intention was to motivate others to support the protesting students through genuine acts of assistance.
Conclusion
The user’s apology has brought clarity to one of the most widely shared stories linked to the ongoing NEET protests. While admitting that the viral pizza bill was fake, he has maintained that donations received will be used transparently to support the protesting students and has apologised for misleading the public.