The viral picture of an elderly woman with a child sent authorities into a tizzy on Friday. Cops launched a search operation as the message with the picture claimed that the woman had abducted the girl to use her for begging. The matter escalated after an MLA tweeted it, seeking police intervention. 

It was later found that the woman is the child’s grandmother. The picture of the woman and the girl gained traction on social media after Kalyan (Rural) MLA Raju Patil tweeted it saying, “This woman with a girl was begging. A female passenger has shared the picture with me, please pay attention.” He tagged the railway minister, deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis, Thane City police and DGP Maharashtra.