In an unusual turn of events, Indian police have cleared a suspected Chinese spy pigeon after an eight-month detention, as reported by the Press Trust of India. The avian drama unfolded in May when the pigeon, captured near a Mumbai port, sparked suspicion with two rings on its legs and a message resembling Chinese characters.

Initially believed to be involved in espionage, the pigeon was detained and later transferred to Mumbai's Bai Sakarbai Dinshaw Petit hospital for animals. However, recent developments unveiled a different narrative. The pigeon, identified as an open-water racing bird from Taiwan, had escaped and unintentionally journeyed to India. With police authorization, the bird found itself under the care of the Bombay Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, who released it back into the wild on Tuesday.

This incident echoes a similar occurrence in 2020 when police in Indian-controlled Kashmir detained a pigeon belonging to a Pakistani fisher. The subsequent investigation revealed that the bird, which had crossed the heavily militarized border between the two nations, was not involved in espionage.

This lighthearted pigeon tale contrasts with a more serious event in 2016, where another pigeon was taken into custody after being found with a threatening note aimed at Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

As the latest feathered saga concludes, it adds another amusing chapter to the curious intersection of birds and espionage in India.