The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has dismissed a letter circulating on social media about the Rafale aircraft delivery as fake. The document falsely claimed that External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had written to the French Embassy, suggesting that sensitive information regarding the Rafale delivery timeline had been leaked.
The MEA&rsquo;s official fact-check handle clarified that the letter is fabricated and urged users to remain vigilant against online disinformation. The post surfaced from an account named Discourse Lab, which alleged that India was facing complications due to leaked communication related to the Rafale programme.
The forged letter, dated November 26, 2025, appeared to show the minister informing French Ambassador Thierry Mathou of an unintended disclosure involving the naval Rafale aircraft timeline. It also attempted to mimic diplomatic language to create an impression of authenticity.
The Rafale procurement has been a subject of political debate since India signed a ₹59,000 crore agreement in 2016 to acquire 36 fighter jets from Dassault Aviation. Over the years, allegations of inflated pricing and corruption have been raised, further intensified by a French media report claiming payments to a middleman.
Both the Indian government and Dassault Aviation have maintained that the deal underwent rigorous scrutiny and met all compliance standards, emphasising timely delivery and procedural transparency.

Foreign Ministry warns against misinformation after fake Rafale letter circulates online

MEA Flags Viral Rafale Letter as Fake

Foreign Ministry warns against misinformation after fake Rafale letter circulates online

December 11, 2025 | 16:59 IST