Fact Check: Viral ‘British Home Department’ Document On RSS Not Being Part Of India’s Freedom Struggle Is Fake

A purported British Home Department paper stating, “RSS did not participate in any anti-British movement from 1925 to 1947,” is going viral across social media platforms, majorly shared and reposted by pro-Congress handles. Newschecker found that the viral document was fabricated.

Here is an instance of one of the X posts, which has clocked 265.4K views so far. We have also received this image on our Whatsapp tipline (+91-9999499044), requesting us to fact-check it.

Evidence: Why the Document Is Fake

1. No “British Home Department” Exists

The UK has a Home Office, established in 1782, responsible for domestic affairs. Its official name is “Home Office,” headed by the “Secretary of State for the Home Department.”
While some may loosely call it the “Home Department,” no official records ever used the title “British Home Department.” This itself raises doubts about the document’s authenticity.

2. No Records in UK Archives

A search of the UK National Archives shows no catalogued files from 1978 mentioning RSS under the Home Office. If such a report existed, it would appear in public records.

3. Errors in the Royal Coat of Arms

The viral document carries a distorted version of the Royal Coat of Arms:

• The motto “Honi soit qui mal y pense” is unreadable.
  
• The phrase “Dieu et mon droit” is truncated to “Dieu Droit.”
  
• The seal contains gibberish text.
  

These flaws strongly suggest the use of AI-generated graphics rather than an authentic government seal. 

4. X Poster’s Clarification

The viral document first appeared on X (formerly Twitter) on August 25, 2025. The same user later clarified on August 27, 2025 that it was a stylised graphic referencing Indian archival sources, not a genuine UK government record.

Verdict

The viral “British Home Department” document claiming RSS did not take part in India’s independence struggle is fake.

Update on 28/08/2025

Newschecker found another document similar to the viral image on another website. According to the description on the website, the letter was written by the last Viceroy and first Governor-General of India, Lord Mountbatten, to one of his colleagues on November 1, 1978.

A closer look at the viral image revealed faint markings of the telephone number, the word “Broadlands”, the year (1978), and a seal on the left margin, similar to the original letter and on the corresponding spots, strongly suggesting that the viral document was created by editing the letter.

FAQs

Q1. Does the UK have a department called the “British Home Department”?
No. The official name is the Home Office, not “British Home Department.”

Q2. Did the British Home Office release a report on RSS in 1978?
No. A search of the UK National Archives shows no such document.

Q3. Why is the Royal Coat of Arms in the viral document suspicious?
The text and motto on the emblem are distorted, incomplete, and contain gibberish, indicating it was artificially generated.

Q4. What’s the final verdict on the viral claim?
The document is fake and does not come from any official UK authority.

Sources
Image analysis
UK Home Office website
National Archives (UK) website
Coats of Arms, official website, British Royal Family
X post, @GuptaPragnya, August 27, 2025
(with inputs from Runjay Kumar, Newschecker Hindi)