Some reporters were pissed off and fuming, some were cracking up and some weren’t sure what just hit them. That’s how the journalist community reacted to Aniruddha Bahal’s exposé. Like always he managed to get most people’s attention, even though, as usual, some were cursing him.

Much before the press conference started at 11:45 am as scheduled, there were people trickling in at 11:00 am. Cables being taped up, jostling and arguments for OB van parking, cameras lining up the back of the room and journos speaking to their headquarters, figuring out when they will cut live to the action at the Press Club of India, Raisina Road – New Delhi.

Here is what landed up in most of our mailboxes yesterday:

When you have a press release promising so much, you show up.  Especially since Bahal and Cobrapost usually do stories that others won’t touch, are too expensive or time consuming to do and have a high probability of ending in dead ends and non-stories.

The turnout of reporters was great. There was The Indian Express, NDTV, Headlines Today, Times Now, ETV and many more with whom I didn’t get to speak. A total of 100-120 people showed up. Unsurprising, since there was the promise of a cocktail of Mossad, Afghan minister’s money-laundering activities in Delhi, National Security Agency, and intrigue and conspiracy at the Delhi Golf Club. But the real surprise was when Bahal announced that everything the press release promised will be delivered, only in a fictional comic book titled: “The Adventures of Rhea: The Cobrapost Affair”.

This was a desi version of April Fool’s — a hoax in the spirit of Holi — as Bahal said: “Bura na mano holi hai.” There was a stunned silence in the room. Many reporters not sure what to make of it.  I asked a few people: “Do you think this is funny, or are you pissed off?”

Some genuinely had no idea what Bahal had just done: “We’re not sure what just happened, is there an exposé or is there not?”

I tried to get reactions from as many reporters as possible. Most gave their views willingly, some are only used to shoving mikes and recording devices in other people’s face, so when asked a question they didn’t have a thought in their head to spit out.

Times Now reporter Prema Sridevi wasn’t at all keen to share her opinion about the story after I requested her twice because Times Now does not want their journalists to speak to the “media”.

So I resorted to a tactic I had learnt by watching Times Now. Thanks Arnab. Check their reactions out below.

Here’s what Bahal had to say on his stunt and the launch of his comic book:

A reporter remarked that Bahal has built a reputation as an investigative journalist with a series of explosive stings, but he has cashed out his credibility with this stunt. It will be interesting to see the next time Cobrapost sends an invite how many will attend.