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A series of fake videos, AI-cloned audio clips, and dozens of forged letters on RSS letterhead have flooded social media, all aimed at provoking political outrage.
Fake letter fact-checked by RSS (left) and fake news spread against the organization exposed (News18)
In February, a video of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat was circulated across platforms. A video of Bhagwat, cleverly and convincingly edited, claims that he called for the “saffronization” of India’s military and demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi “remove untouchability”. Within hours, the clip was circulating everywhere, being shared, discussed, and weaponized on social media platforms and beyond.
The claim was explosive. However, upon closer inspection, it was determined that the video was a deepfake created using AI. The audio was duplicated, the context was twisted, and it was created on purpose. The government issued an explanation and called out false statements about the video.
But this was not a one-off. It was part of a more systematic strategy. In fact, a senior Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) official said this is just the tip of a much larger disinformation iceberg. In recent months, a series of fake videos, AI-cloned audio clips, and dozens of forged letters on RSS letterhead have flooded social media, all aimed at provoking political anger and distorting public perception.
From fabricated letters to PM Modi to false claims about Rahul Gandhi, the pattern is consistent. This includes official-looking formats, viral-ready content, and strategic timing for sensitive moments. Deepfakes also bring in leaders like Rajnath Singh, and impersonators imitate figures like Ajit Doval to give false authenticity.
letterhead conspiracy
The purpose is no longer just misinformation. This is a massive narrative confusion, said an official in the RSS ranks. RSS is now actively pushing back, reporting fake letters as AI-generated, launching legal complaints, and warning that its name and letterhead are being systematically misused.
“In today’s hyper-accelerated information cycle, misinformation is no longer random noise; it’s engineered. Carefully timed, politically charged, and digitally sophisticated, these campaigns not only mislead, but the facts catch up. The aim is to destabilize the narrative before. And from the context, you can notice how such deepfakes and AI-generated documents increase before parliamentary and parliamentary elections. Very clearly, these are not random things,” said a senior official.
If deepfake videos are headline news, fake documents are the silent disruptor. News18 has accessed at least eight fake letters on RSS letterheads that have been circulating in recent months. These were crafted to appear official, and each was designed to cause controversy.
A series of fabricated “policy” memos followed, some on religious reservations, some outlining conversion strategies, and others hinting at dissent within the Sangh. Add to these bogus recommendations regarding elections, fake investigations, minority support, and even national security, and a clear pattern emerges. Each document bears the same signature: official-looking letterhead, bureaucratic tone, and just enough plausibility to go viral.
fake letter factory
Beyond videos, more insidious tools have been repeatedly introduced, such as forged characters on RSS letterheads. Listed below are eight such fabricated communications that have been circulated in recent months to cause political shock.
*Fake letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi purportedly from Bhagwat, questioning Assam politics and indirectly targeting Himanta Biswa Sarma
* Forged memo praising Rahul Gandhi as future leader
* Forged directive on ‘religious reservation’ mistakenly attributed to Sangh
* Conversion strategy document outlining non-existent plan for religious mobilization
*Letter regarding election interference allegedly inducing voting patterns
*Communications about internal dissent that highlight rifts within the organization
* Policy note on support for minorities designed to appear controversial
* “Strategic recommendations” on national security, exploiting institutional tone and format
RSS pushback
Sources said Delhi Police and Assam Police investigated these cases, leading to the arrest of individuals, including National Congress Students’ Union (NSUI) officials, for creating and circulating fake letters. RSS sympathizers have registered complaints with the crime branch and the cyber wing of the Election Commission, warning that such fake content is aimed at disturbing public harmony, a senior RSS official said.
The backlash has now gone beyond a statement. Several FIRs have been registered and authorities are tracing the source of the doctored videos and forged documents. Delhi Police and Assam Police made arrests in some cases, indicating a crackdown is underway. Law enforcement authorities are increasingly pointing to organized networks that leverage AI tools to mass-produce and quickly distribute such content.
In addition to videos and letters, organization officials also point to an increase in “fabricated” news and opinion pieces posted on anonymous portals, circulated as screenshots, and disguising positions, internal rifts, and policy stances. RSS officials claim this is not an isolated piece of misinformation, but a structured campaign to distort public debate. As the election approaches, the battle is clearly expanding from the ground to the digital, where trust itself is under attack.
“Currently, creating deepfakes, whether images, videos, or audio, is not technically difficult or complex. With freely available tools and generative AI models, even non-technical individuals can recreate convincing synthetic content. This accessibility significantly lowers the barrier for targeted impersonation and misinformation campaigns. Existing responses, from advisories to fact-checking departments, remain largely reactive and piecemeal. “Although statutory provisions exist, such as the Act and Defamation Framework, enforcement is inconsistent and jurisdictions often vary,” furthermore, there is no single authority responsible for dealing with deepfake-related harm end-to-end, Vanpreet Sandhu, a senior industry expert on AI and cybersecurity, told News18.
“The most effective long-term response is to combine behavioral interventions with technological safeguards such as mandatory metadata embedding, watermarking, and labeling of AI-generated content by AI agents and applications. This can encourage users to think twice, especially when the content is emotionally charged or urgent, and remains an important line of defense. Deepfakes thrive in low-trust environments,” Sandhu added.
narrative warfare
Deepfake speeches have also targeted leaders like Rajnath Singh. Fake social media profiles impersonate people such as Ajit Doval. Old videos are recycled and events that took place in one state are passed off as happening in another state to stir up tensions. Timing is rarely a coincidence. These waves peak during elections and politically sensitive periods, when public opinion is most sensitive.
“What is needed now is a comprehensive structured program and a centralized governing body with clear jurisdiction, standardized complaint mechanisms, and the power to mandate platform compliance so people will pause before sharing frames. This must include requirements for traceability, rapid removal processes, and accountability throughout the content lifecycle,” said Abhijit Tripathy, another senior industry expert involved in cybersecurity and forensic analysis.
“From a cybersecurity perspective, users act as the first line of defense, but only at a basic level. They can look for anomalies such as audio and video sync mismatches, unnatural facial movements, and inconsistencies in documents. Contain content through trusted sources and official channels. Simple tools like reverse image searches and metadata checks can help flag suspicious content, but awareness is key because highly sophisticated deepfakes can evade human detection.
April 11, 2026, 09:22 IST
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