A picture of actor Amitabh Bachchan shaking hands with a man has been going viral on social media. Users are claiming this photo is proof of a link between Bachchan and the infamous underworld gangster Dawood Ibrahim. They also believe that it is this connection between the two which prompted Jaya Bachchan to hit back at those targetting the Indian entertainment industry over alleged drugs connection. On September 18, Facebook user Shailendra Jora posted the picture, writing, “I am your father by blood, but I am your slave..! This old picture of Dawood Ibrahim and Amitabh Bachchan has now been released. That’s why Jaya Bachchan is all fired up over Bollywood’s drugs connection. Shame on Amitabh Bachhan.!” His post had been shared 1,100 before it was taken down (archived link).
A Twitter user shared this picture with the same claim.
A few other netizens also shared the image on Facebook and Twitter with the message, “अंतरराष्ट्रीय अपराधी दाऊद इब्राहिम और अमिताभ बच्चन।”
Fact-check
A reverse image search led us to an article by the Times of India dated March 25, 2010. According to this report, the person shaking hands with Amitabh Bachchan is senior Congress leader and former Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Ashok Chavan.
Several other media outlets, including The Hindu, India TV, NDTV, and The Indian Express shared photos from Amitabh Bachchan and the politician’s meeting.
According to the report in The Hindu from March 27, 2010, Chavan, the then Chief Minister of Maharashtra, met the actor on March 24, 2010, at the inauguration of the Bandra-Worli Sea Link. Various senior leaders from Congress had objected to this meeting since the actor is the brand ambassador of the BJP-ruled state of Gujarat.
Abhishek Bachchan had clarified the origins of the picture on September 18 in his reply to a tweet. Following this, the user he replied to deleted their tweet.
भईसाहब, यह फ़ोटो मेरे पिताजी और महाराष्ट्र के पूर्व मुख्य मंत्री श्री अशोक शंकरराव चव्हाण की हैं।
🙏🏽— Abhishek Bachchan (@juniorbachchan) September 18, 2020
Thus, the photo in question does not show Amitabh Bachchan shaking hands with Dawood Ibrahim. It was actually taken during a meeting between the actor and former Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan in 2010.
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