Viral Photo Claiming Kangana Ranaut with Gangster Abu Salem Proven False

A viral photo purportedly showing Bollywood actress and BJP leader Kangana Ranaut with notorious gangster Abu Salem has been debunked. The man in the image is actually former journalist Mark Manuel, and the photo was taken at a 2017 champagne brunch in Mumbai.

The image was shared widely on social media with captions falsely claiming that Ranaut was posing with Abu Salem, a 1993 Mumbai blast convict currently serving a life sentence. The misleading post included text in Hindi, translating to 'Some memorable moments of devotees' lioness (referring to Ranaut) with the country's enemy Abu Salem.'

The photo was originally taken on September 15, 2017, at Korner House in Khar, Mumbai, during a champagne brunch to celebrate Kangana Ranaut's film 'Simran.' Mark Manuel, a former editor at The Times of India, shared the photo on his Instagram and Facebook accounts, captioning it 'Sunday brunch with Kangana Ranaut.'

Ranaut and Manuel both clarified the situation on social media. Ranaut addressed the false claims on Instagram, stating, 'I don't believe Congress people really think he is the dreaded gangster Abu Salem hanging out with me casually in a Mumbai bar. He is ex TOI entertainment editor his name is Mark Manuel. Manuel also confirmed on Facebook that the photo was taken at a brunch and not with Abu Salem, who has been incarcerated since 2002.

Why this matters: The spread of misinformation can have significant consequences in the political arena, potentially influencing public opinion and election outcomes. If left unchecked, false claims like this can undermine the integrity of the democratic process.

This is not the first time the photo has gone viral with the same false claim; it also circulated earlier this year. Despite the clarifications, the image continues to resurface, misleading people about the identity of the man in the picture.

Kangana Ranaut is currently the BJP candidate from the Mandi constituency in Himachal Pradesh, which goes to polls on June 1. The spread of such misinformation could potentially impact her political campaign.

To summarize, the claim that Kangana Ranaut posed for a photo with Abu Salem is false. The man in the image is Mark Manuel, a former journalist, and the photo was taken at a 2017 champagne brunch in Mumbai.

Key Takeaways

• Viral photo of Kangana Ranaut with Abu Salem is false.
• Man in photo is Mark Manuel, former journalist, not Abu Salem.
• Photo taken at 2017 champagne brunch in Mumbai, not with gangster.
• Ranaut and Manuel clarified situation on social media.
• Spread of misinformation can impact political campaigns and outcomes.