A disturbing viral video shared in mid-February 2026 has exposed a shocking practice at railway stations: used Rail Neer (IRCTC’s official packaged drinking water) bottles being collected, refilled, and resold as brand-new sealed ones. The clip, posted by a traveller on X and Instagram, shows a roadside vendor openly handling dozens of previously used Rail Neer bottles – some still dirty, with old caps and torn seals – before rinsing them and filling them with tap water to sell again at ₹20 each.
The man in the video (who appears to be the whistleblower) zooms in on the bottles, pointing out:
- Dirty, discoloured caps with visible wear
- Torn or missing original seals
- Bottles with old manufacturing dates (some from 2024–2025)
- Vendor casually pouring ordinary water from a jerry can into the “cleaned” bottles
He then confronts the vendor on camera: “Yeh sab purane Rail Neer ke bottle hain… phir se bharke bech rahe ho? Yeh fraud hai!” (These are all old Rail Neer bottles… you’re refilling and selling them again? This is fraud!)
The vendor is seen laughing it off and continuing his work, which only fueled the outrage when the video spread.
The post strikingly narrates the incident, stating,
“Bro is Ajit singh, a hardcore BJP supporter since 2014. Bro used to defend BJP by saying that after modi came to power the corruption has vanished from the country.”
It further adds how the passenger, while travelling,
“purchases the authentic ‘Rail Neer’ govt owned packaged drinking water from railway station in hope of drinking hygienic fresh water.”
However, the situation takes a turn when,
“While casually removing the label of Rail neer he found that it is an already used water bottle which was being refilled and resold to passengers.”
Shocked by the discovery,
“Bro got so angry that he made a video to expose the ongoing scam in Indian railways.”
The narration concludes,
“From being a supporter of the BJP to exposing the corruption of BJP, Bro came a long way….”
As the video gained traction, many users reacted strongly, demanding accountability and stricter monitoring of services.
Have a look at the viral video
Why Rail Neer Bottles Are Targeted
Rail Neer is IRCTC’s trusted branded bottled water sold exclusively at railway stations, trains, and platforms at a fixed price (usually ₹15–20). Because of the brand trust and high passenger footfall, counterfeit/refilled versions are a lucrative scam in many stations – especially smaller ones or roadside stalls near railway exits.
Common tricks shown in similar exposés:
- Collecting discarded genuine Rail Neer bottles from dustbins/trains
- Washing them (sometimes just rinsing)
- Refilling with tap or unfiltered water
- Re-sealing with fake caps or old seals
- Selling at the same price as the original
Passengers often don’t check expiry dates, batch numbers, or seal integrity, making it easy for vendors to deceive.
Public Reaction: Shock, Anger & Calls for Action
The video exploded with over 500K views across platforms in 48 hours. Netizens reacted with fury:
- “This is why people get sick after drinking station water!”
- “IRCTC needs to take strict action – these bottles are everywhere.”
- “Used bottle + tap water = ₹20 scam. And we pay for hygiene?”
- “Rail Neer should come in tamper-proof, non-reusable bottles.”
- Humorous but dark: “Rail Neer + extra protein (from previous user) 😂”
Many shared their own stories of finding suspicious Rail Neer bottles on trains or platforms – cloudy water, floating particles, or broken seals.
IRCTC & Railways’ Response (As of Feb 2026)
IRCTC has not issued an official statement on this specific video yet, but in past similar incidents (2024–2025), they’ve said:
“Kindly provide the passenger’s details, contact number, and purchase information so that we can look into it.”
Kindly provide the passenger details, contact number, and purchase information so that we can look into it.
— IRCTC (@IRCTCofficial) February 26, 2026
- Rail Neer is produced in ISO-certified plants with strict quality checks.
- Bottles are tamper-evident (shrink sleeves/seals).
- Vendors found selling fakes face blacklisting and legal action.
- Passengers should buy only from authorised stalls and check seals.
Railway police (RPF) and local authorities have been asked to crack down on such stalls near stations. However, enforcement remains weak in smaller towns and rural stations.
Broader Issue: Street Vendor Fraud & Food/Water Safety
This is part of a larger pattern of street-level fraud in India:
- Refilled soft drink bottles
- Fake packaged snacks
- Reused mineral water bottles in general
FSSAI guidelines clearly prohibit the reuse of single-use plastic bottles for food/water, but implementation is poor. Passengers are advised to:
- Check the manufacturing date, batch number, and seal
- Buy from IRCTC-authorised stalls only
- Prefer sealed tetra packs or hot beverages on trains
Quick Facts: Used Rail Neer Bottles Scam Viral 2026
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Viral Platforms | X, Instagram (shared Feb 20–22, 2026) |
| Location | Unspecified railway station area (likely North India) |
| Item Exposed | Used Rail Neer bottles refilled & resold as fresh |
| Vendor Behavior | Rinsing old bottles, refilling with tap water, selling at ₹20 |
| Public Reaction | Shock, anger, calls for IRCTC crackdown, hygiene concerns |
| IRCTC Stance | No direct comment yet; past statements emphasize authorized sales only |
| Safety Advice | Rinsing old bottles, refilling with tap water, and selling at ₹20 |
This video is a stark reminder: always inspect packaged water, especially at stations. Have you ever spotted something suspicious in Rail Neer or other bottled water? Share your experience below! 🚂💧
