Authors
Vasudha noticed the growing problem of mis/disinformation online after studying New Media at ACJ in Chennai and became interested in separating facts from fiction. She is interested in learning how global issues affect individuals on a micro level. Before joining Newschecker’s English team, she was working with Latestly.
Claim
₹500 notes served at the recent event by the Ambani family instead of tissue papers.
Fact
Fake notes used as a part of food presentation.
As visuals from the grand inauguration of the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (NMACC) in Mumbai left netizens gushing at the sheer opulence of the star-studded event, the image of a plate of dessert decorated with currency notes is being widely shared online. The image, which is purportedly a screengrab from an Instagram story of photographer German Larkin, shows a dish mounted with “₹500 notes.” While many chuckled at the ‘extravaganza’, many others believed it to be real. However, the image was being shared as a meme and that the users believed the currency notes to be real.
Several Twitter and Facebook users shared the image leaving others longing for an invitation from the Ambanis.
Such posts can be seen here, here, here and here.
Also Read: Old Photograph Of PM Modi Bowing To Chief Functionary Of An NGO Morphed To Show Nita Ambani
The viral photograph also ensured a play day for the online meme creators.
Fact Check/Verification
On examining the viral photograph, we noticed that the alleged INR notes appear to have been printed on a glossy paper sheet. We also compared the currency notes with a ₹500 specimen shared on the RBI website, and found several discrepancies. Firstly, the text “₹500” written on one end of the actual currency note is not seen in the photograph. Additionally, the text “लाल किला RED FORT” written at the bottom of the monument’s motif on the actual ₹500 note is also missing. The alleged currency notes seen in the viral photograph appear to be much larger in size as well.
To know more about the features of ₹500 notes issued by the Reserve Bank of India, check this.
Further, on scanning through the comment sections of posts carrying the viral photograph we spotted several users pointing out that the “notes” were a part of the presentation of a dish called “Daulat ki Chaat.”
We then looked up the dish on Google and found a report by The Quint, dated October 16, 2018, drawing a comparison between two versions of the famous dessert Daulat ki Chaat – one by a street vendor and other by a chef at Indian Accent.
Notably, the Chef’s version of Daulat ki Chaat had an identical presentation to the dish seen in the viral photograph.
A tweet by @Indian_Accent, dated March 27, 2023, carried a photograph of Daulat Ki Chaat. Their culinary presentation was identical to that of the dish seen in the viral picture – a delicacy sitting on a Patravali (dried leaf) and amidst a fan of “₹500 notes” from one side.
To know more about Daulat Ki Chaat, check this.
Multiple news outlets also reported on the viral picture, clarifying that the money was “fake” and a part of the culinary presentation of Daulat Ki Chaat. An NDTV report, dated April 3, 2023, stated, “Indian Accent restaurant remodelled the dessert (Daulat Ki Chaat) by adding fake notes (yes, it’s all fake money), calling it the “dessert of the riches.” “
A report by India Today, dated March 3, 2023, clarified, “..the guests at Ambani’s party at the NMACC launch were served a dish with Rs 500 notes in it, but it wasn’t real money.”
A story/status shared on Instagram disappears within 24 hours of its posting. Hence, we were not able to independently verify whether Larkin had shared the viral photograph from the Ambani event or not.
Conclusion
We could thus conclude that the viral photograph actually shows fake ₹500 notes added to a dish as a part of culinary presentation, and not actual money being served at the Ambanis instead of tissue paper.
Result: Missing Context
Sources
Report By The Quint, Dated October 16, 2018
Tweet By @Indian_Accent, Dated March 27, 2023
Report By NDTV, Dated April 3, 2023
Report By India Today, Dated March 3, 2023
Self Analysis
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Authors
Vasudha noticed the growing problem of mis/disinformation online after studying New Media at ACJ in Chennai and became interested in separating facts from fiction. She is interested in learning how global issues affect individuals on a micro level. Before joining Newschecker’s English team, she was working with Latestly.
