A picture of actress and BJP candidate Kangana Ranaut sitting on a chair with a man standing next to her, holding a cocktail glass, has gone viral. It purports to show Ranaut with terrorist and criminal gangster Abu Salem.

Verified accounts on twitter, including @AsianDigest tweeted “According to this picture shared by Naveen Mishra. Its actress Kangana Ranaut with Underworld Don Abu Saleem” on April 2, 2024. The tweet has received an about more than 1.5k views on X. Several other accounts, including @NaveenM96466 claimed the same that Kangana Ranaut clicked a picture with criminal gangster and terrorist Abu Salem. The archive can be read from above.

What is the Actual Truth about this Incident? : Fact

These are unfounded and fraudulent assertions. Mark Manual, a journalist, is the man pictured with Kangana Ranaut; he is not Abu Salem. In 2017, Mark Manuel shared the picture on Facebook. Kangana Ranaut has previously addressed and denied the claim in the meantime.

The official account of @KanganaTeam cleared it on twitter post that the claims made about the picture are absolutely fake on October 1, 2023.

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
They are such cartoons my God 😂😂
Tabhi inki party ki yeh halat hai 🤣 https://t.co/ySpstzfjvm

— Kangana Ranaut (Modi Ka Parivar) (@KanganaTeam) September 30, 2023

Mark Manuel posted the same picture on Facebook on September 15, 2017. This clearly shows that the picture is not with criminal gangster Abu Salem.

D-Intent’s Fact-Checking Results:

1807
ANALYSIS: Misleading

FACT: An image that features actress and BJP candidate Kangana Ranaut holding a cocktail glass and sitting on a chair while a man standing next to her has been shared, claiming that she is with criminal gangster and terrorist Abu Salem. (1/3) pic.twitter.com/pGfzoYgjRr

— D-Intent Data (@dintentdata) April 2, 2024

Intent:

Political influencers are circulating old images of Kangana Ranaut with false claims to target the actress and influence the upcoming general elections. An image that features actress and BJP candidate Kangana Ranaut holding a cocktail glass and sitting on a chair while a man standing next to her has been shared, claiming that she is with criminal gangster and terrorist Abu Salem. They are false and unfounded accusations. It is a journalist named Mark Manual, not Abu Salem, who is shown with Kangana Ranaut. On his Facebook page, Mark Manuel shared the picture in 2017. Concurrently, Kangana Ranaut has previously addressed and denied the assertion.

Conclusion:

Claim : According to a shared image, actress and BJP candidate Kangana Ranaut is with terrorist and criminal gangster Abu Salem. She is sitting on a chair, holding a cocktail glass, and the man standing next to her.

Fact : These claims are fake and baseless. The man seen with Kangana Ranaut is a journalist named Mark Manual, not Abu Salem. Mark Manuel posted the image in 2017 on his Facebook account. Meanwhile, Kangana Ranaut has also clarified and refuted the claim previously.

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