AI & Deepfakes FALSE 13 MIN READ

Yogi Adityanath Resignation Deepfake: AI Technology Weaponized for Political Hoax

A sophisticated deepfake video falsely showing Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath announcing his resignation went viral before fact-checkers exposed the AI manipulation.

TL;DR

FALSE

A deepfake video showing Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announcing his resignation was exposed as AI-generated. BOOM Live identified telltale signs including audio-visual sync issues and facial manipulation artifacts. The CM's office confirmed no resignation had occurred. UP Police initiated an investigation into the deepfake's origin.

Executive Summary

In 2025, a video spread across Indian social media purporting to show CM Yogi Adityanath announcing his resignation as Chief Minister. The video appeared professionally produced, leading many to initially believe it was genuine. BOOM Live and Vishvas News quickly identified the video as a deepfake, noting lip-sync anomalies and unnatural facial movements. The UP Government denied any resignation, and police launched an investigation. This case highlights the growing threat of political deepfakes in Indian elections.

Deepfake Detection Indicators
Source: BOOM Live analysis

The Viral Video

The video showed what appeared to be CM Adityanath in official surroundings, speaking about "stepping down for personal reasons" [1].

It spread rapidly on WhatsApp and X/Twitter, with some political accounts amplifying it before verification [4].

Detection and Debunking

BOOM Live's analysis identified multiple AI manipulation markers: inconsistent lip movements, unnatural blinking patterns, and subtle facial distortions [1].

Audio analysis revealed the voice had been synthesized using AI, with frequency patterns inconsistent with natural speech [7].

Government Response

The UP CM's office issued an immediate denial, confirming Adityanath remained in office and had made no resignation announcement [3].

UP Police's cybercrime unit launched an investigation to identify those responsible for creating and distributing the deepfake [5].

Conclusion

The Yogi Adityanath resignation video was a sophisticated deepfake with no basis in reality. AI detection tools and fact-checkers successfully identified the manipulation markers. This case demonstrates the increasing quality of political deepfakes and the critical importance of verification before sharing political content.