New Delhi, Sept. 6 -- Hours after panic gripped Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) over reports of a leopard sighting, forest department officials have ruled out the presence of the big cat following spot verification, varsity officials said on Saturday night.

"Forest officials did not confirm the presence of a leopard in JNU. They have gone back after spot verification," JNU officials told ANI.

Earlier in the evening, a student claimed to have spotted a leopard near Aravalli Guest House while feeding stray dogs and cats, prompting immediate alerts to the university administration and security personnel.

The forest department was informed and a team reached the campus, initially suspecting the animal's presence based on footprints.

The...