FACT CHECK | MEA Exposes Viral Lies: Indian Diplomat Nilesh Kumar Rai NOT Declared Persona Non Grata

New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has issued a strong warning against circulating false information regarding Indian consular official Nilesh Kumar Rai. Recent posts on social media platforms,

including X (formerly Twitter), claimed that Rai, First Secretary at the Indian Embassy in the Philippines, had been declared persona non grata and ordered to leave the country within 48 hours.Images circulating alongside these posts, showing official DFA statements or news reports, have been flagged as fake by the MEA Fact Check team. The posts falsely linked Rai to alleged violations and sensationalised the story.Also Read | Fake Alert: Did Ex-Indian Army Chief Praise Pakistan, Admit Rafale Losses? No, Video Is AI-Made

Always stay alert against disinformation and fake posts on social media. pic.twitter.com/bRP66MAwgA

— MEA FactCheck (@MEAFactCheck) December 17, 2025

In one of the widely shared images, a purported Department of Foreign Affairs (Philippines) statement declared Rai persona non grata. Another post claimed that social media sources had captured him being “fired” by the Philippine government. All these claims were verified to be fabricated, with the MEA Fact Check labelling them clearly as FAKE.Also Read | FACT CHECK: No Chinese Military Buildup Near Arunachal Pradesh - Here's the Truth Behind Viral VideoThe ministry emphasised the need to remain vigilant: “Always stay alert against disinformation and fake posts on social media,” the MEA Fact Check handle stated.This comes amid rising instances of misinformation targeting diplomats and government officials. Citizens are urged to rely only on official MEA communications or verified news sources for updates regarding Indian diplomatic personnel abroad.