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In a significant development this week, Vishvas News has uncovered that viral photographs purportedly showing Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein are completely fabricated.
The images began circulating widely on social media in early February 2026, following the U.S. Department of Justice’s massive document release related to the Epstein investigation on January 30. Multiple accounts on platforms including Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) shared the images, claiming they were part of the newly declassified “Epstein Files.”
The fabricated image of Prime Minister Modi shows him posed with a woman and Epstein, accompanied by captions suggesting revelations about Modi’s relationship with the United States. Similarly, the doctored photograph of Rahul Gandhi depicts the Congress leader in a comparable setting with the late financier.
Digital forensic analysis conducted by Vishvas News definitively proved both images were created using artificial intelligence. The investigation employed multiple AI detection tools including Hugging Face, Decopy, Undetectable, and Google DeepMind’s Synth ID, all of which confirmed the images were AI-generated with extremely high confidence ratings.
Experts noted several telltale signs of AI manipulation in the images. In the Modi photo, for instance, investigators pointed out inconsistent backgrounds where one part resembles a library while another appears to be an outdoor park setting – a common flaw in AI-generated imagery known as “hallucinated” or merged backgrounds.
Azahar Machwe, an AI technology expert consulted during the investigation, confirmed the photographs were created using artificial intelligence tools and have no basis in reality.
The timing of these fabricated images coincides with heightened public interest in the Epstein case following the Justice Department’s release of approximately three million pages of documents related to the investigation. According to BBC reporting cited by Vishvas News, these files contain text documents, videos, photographs, and references to numerous influential figures worldwide.
Epstein, who died in 2019, was convicted of sex crimes, and the ongoing document releases continue to generate significant international attention. The fabricated images appear designed to exploit this high-profile case to spread misinformation about Indian political figures.
The Instagram account responsible for sharing one of the fabricated images has over 100,000 followers, highlighting the potential reach of such misinformation. Vishvas News noted that despite the significant implications such photographs would carry if authentic, no legitimate news organizations had reported on them – another red flag indicating their inauthenticity.
This incident underscores the growing challenge of synthetic media in the political sphere. As AI image generation tools become more accessible and sophisticated, the ability to create convincing fake photographs of public figures presents new challenges for media literacy, fact-checking organizations, and democratic discourse.
The case also highlights the importance of professional fact-checking in an era where misinformation can spread rapidly across social platforms. Multiple verification tools and expert analysis were required to definitively prove these widely-shared images were fabrications, demonstrating the increasingly complex nature of information verification in the digital age.
Vishvas News concluded its investigation by categorically labeling the viral claim as false, confirming that the photographs of both Modi and Gandhi with Epstein were AI-generated and have no connection to the official Epstein investigation documents.
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5 Comments
This is a timely reminder of the potential risks posed by deepfake technology. While AI can be a powerful tool, its misuse to create fabricated content is worrying. I hope the authorities can take steps to address the spread of these kinds of AI-generated fakes.
Kudos to the fact-checkers for uncovering this. The use of AI to generate fake images of political leaders is a concerning trend that we’ll likely see more of. As an investor, I value accurate information, so I’m glad these particular fakes were exposed.
This is a concerning development, as the spread of doctored images can have serious consequences for public discourse and trust in institutions. I’m glad the fact-checking investigation was able to conclusively prove these were AI-generated fakes.
Interesting that these images were fabricated using AI. It’s important to be vigilant about the spread of misinformation, especially around high-profile political figures. I’m curious to learn more about the techniques used to detect these as AI-generated fakes.
As an investor in mining and energy companies, I’m always wary of false information that could impact stock prices or sentiment. It’s good to see these AI-generated images being debunked, but it highlights the need for robust fact-checking across all news and social media.