Bachchan's tweet on 'clapping vibrations destroy virus potency' draws ire, actor later deletes it

Megastar Amitabh Bachchan on Monday was heavily criticised for one of his tweets, which claimed vibrations from clapping, blowing conch shells as part of Sunday's Janata Curfew would have reduced or destroyed coronavirus potency as it was 'amavasya', the darkest day of the month.

Bachchan's tweet comes in the wake of several similar fake news stories misinterpreting Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appeal of clapping and clanging plates to express gratitude to those providing essential services during this global health crisis.

The 77-year-old actor took to Twitter and, in a tweet that has now been deleted, wrote, "An opinion given: 5 PM, 22nd Mar, 'amavasya', darkest day of month; virus, bacteria evil force at max potential & power! Clapping shankh vibrations reduce/ destroy virus potency Moon passing to new 'nakshatra' Revati. cumulative vibration betters blood circulation."
On Sunday, even the Press Information Bureau busted the viral fake claim, writing, "NO! The vibration generated by clapping together will NOT destroy #Coronavirus infection."