PIB Warns Against Fake Letter Attributed to India's Defence Minister

The Press Information Bureau has raised an alarm about a counterfeit letter falsely attributed to India's Defence Minister, which is being circulated by Pakistani accounts as part of a misinformation campaign. The bureau has urged the public to rely on verified information from official government sources. Additionally, the PIB debunked claims regarding Indian casualties in Operation Sindoor, clarifying that images being shared are outdated and unrelated to current events. This highlights the ongoing issue of misinformation on social media and the importance of fact-checking.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 15, 2025, 19:57 IST

Alert on Misinformation

On Thursday, the fact-checking unit of the Press Information Bureau (PIB) issued a warning regarding a fraudulent letter that falsely claims to be from India's Defence Minister, directed to the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Northern Command. This misleading document is being disseminated across social media platforms.

According to the PIB, the letter is being propagated by accounts linked to Pakistan, serving as a tool for spreading false information.

The bureau emphasized the importance of relying on verified information and urged the public to consult official sources from the Government of India for accurate updates.

Debunking False Claims

In addition, the PIB fact-checking unit addressed another misleading narrative circulating on social media regarding alleged Indian casualties in Operation Sindoor.

Numerous accounts based in Pakistan shared images claiming to depict the last rites of an Indian Air Force Rafale pilot who supposedly died on May 7. However, the PIB clarified that this assertion is entirely false, revealing that the image in question is from 2008 and unrelated to the current situation.

The PIB fact-checking unit stated, "An old image is going viral on social media, with many Pakistan-based accounts claiming that it shows the last rites of a Rafale pilot of the #IndianAirForce who died on 7 May 2025. This claim is completely fake. The image is actually from 2008 and unrelated to the current context."