New Delhi: Amid the heated row over Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut’s statement alleging former PM Indira Gandhi of having links with underworld don Karim Lala, ABP News has accessed an exclusive picture dating back to 1973, where Gandhi can be seen meeting Lala.

In the picture, former actor and politician Harindranath Chattopadhyay, who was a family friend of Gandhi, is also present.

As per senior journalist Baljeet Parmar, Karim Lala had told Chattopadhyay about his desire to see the Parliament and other places of  Delhi, a request to which the latter agreed. “The picture is of Rashtrapati Bhavan when Chattopadhyay was felicitated with the civilian honour of the Padma Bhushan. He had taken Lala along with him to the ceremony," Parmar told ABP News.

Parmar also said that Karim Lala was the president of the Indian body of Pathans for as long as he lived.

A political ruckus had erupted after Shiv Sena leader Sanay Raut said that Gandhi used to meet don Karim Lala. Congress leaders Milind Deora and Sanjay Nirupam had condemned the statement made by Raut and asked him to withdraw his "ill-informed" remarks that former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi met underworld don Karim Lala.

Raut later backtracked from his statement after Congress (which is its alliance partner in Maharashtra government) criticised his statement.

“Many political people used to come to meet Karim Lala, times were different back then. He was a leader of the Pathan community, he had come from Afghanistan. So, people used to meet him over the problems faced by the Pathan community,” he clarified later.

Meanwhile, BJP leader Devendra Fadanavis has launched a tirade against Congress and has sought a clarification from the party. “Senior leaders of Congress must answer the people, association with criminals because of whom attacks have happened in Mumbai, I think there is nothing more defaming than this, Congress must clarify,” Fadanavis said.