The Hyderabad Cyber Crime Police registered First Information Reports against the head of Meta India and multiple social media account operators on July 31, 2026. The cases follow complaints regarding AI-generated, morphed videos and derogatory posts targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi that circulated on Facebook and Instagram during recent student protests.
HYDERABAD, India — The Cyber Crime Police in Hyderabad registered formal criminal cases against the Meta India head and operators of several Facebook and Instagram accounts on July 31, 2026. The legal action follows complaints alleging the circulation of morphed, AI-generated, and derogatory content targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi on platforms owned by Meta Platforms Inc.
According to cybercrime officials, police are preparing to issue formal statutory notices to Meta under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Information Technology Act, seeking user details, origin IP addresses, and moderation logs to trace the individuals behind the objectionable posts.
Complaints Cite Derogatory Content and National Security Concerns
The registration of the First Information Report (FIR) was triggered by complaints filed by representatives of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) social media wing in Telangana.
In a formal complaint submitted to the Cyber Crime Police Station in Nampally, T Saikiran Goud, a member of the BJP Telangana social media committee, submitted 20 specific URLs pointing to Facebook and Instagram reels. The complainant alleged that the circulated videos were digitally manipulated using artificial intelligence tools to depict Prime Minister Narendra Modi in an abusive manner, with the potential to incite public mischief and disturb public order.
A second complaint was lodged by S Aravind Reddy, who alleged that multiple handles shared obscene and misleading media featuring the Prime Minister, foreign dignitaries, and political leaders.
Legal Provisions and Scope of Cybercrime Probe
Following the complaints, police registered cases under Sections 66(C) and 67 of the Information Technology Act, alongside Sections 353(2) and 336(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which relate to identity theft, publishing obscene material electronically, and statements conducing to public mischief.
The police investigation focuses on three key dimensions:
Account Identification: Determining the digital identities and IP location logs of operators running the flagged social media accounts.
Intermediary Responsibility: Examining whether the platform's moderation algorithms failed to detect and remove AI-generated deepfakes and abusive media in a timely manner.
Co-Accused Status: Assessing the legal accountability of the Meta India head as the executive representative of the intermediary hosting non-compliant content.
Police officials confirmed that while several of the flagged links became inactive or were removed by Thursday evening, digital evidence preservation orders are being issued to Meta to retrieve archived data.
Heightened Regulatory Scrutiny on Meta in India
The legal action by Telangana Police coincides with broader regulatory oversight surrounding social media intermediaries in India.
Earlier in the week, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) summoned senior leadership from Meta to explain a separate technical incident where an official video posted on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Facebook page was briefly restricted due to an automated moderation error before being restored.
While Meta issued a statement clarifying that the restriction resulted from an automated system glitch and offered an apology, government officials indicated that additional policy and technical safeguards are required to protect constitutional figures from synthetic misinformation.
Practical Impact on Social Media Users and Intermediaries
The booking of the Meta India head and individual account holders reinforces evolving legal precedents regarding digital content in India:
For Platform Intermediaries: Highlights strict compliance requirements under Indian IT rules, requiring social media platforms to accelerate the removal of synthetic or AI-generated media targeting public figures.
For Digital Content Creators: Serves as a reminder that creating or circulating AI-generated deepfakes, morphed imagery, or abusive media directed at individuals carries direct criminal liability under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
For Citizens and Users: Underlines government initiatives to curb the spread of manipulated digital media that could mislead the public or cause social friction.
Official Sources Section
Legal filings, statutory notices, and investigative updates detailed in this news report were confirmed through:
Quote Section
"According to officials from the Hyderabad Cyber Crime Police, cases have been registered under provisions of the Information Technology Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita against account operators and the Meta India head, and notices are being dispatched to Meta seeking digital evidence and account logs associated with the objectionable posts."
Why It Matters
The police action against the Meta India head underscores the mounting legal liability faced by global social media intermediaries operating in India. As generative AI tools make deepfakes and synthetic media easier to produce, law enforcement agencies are increasingly holding platform executives accountable for enforcing content moderation standards and preventing the spread of deceptive political media.
Key Facts at a Glance
Event: Hyderabad Cyber Crime Police register FIR against the Meta India head and multiple account operators.
Allegations: Dissemination of AI-generated, morphed videos and derogatory posts targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Legal Charges: Involves Sections 66(C) and 67 of the IT Act, along with Sections 353(2) and 336(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Investigative Action: Police are issuing formal notices to Meta to obtain user logs and preserve digital evidence.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why was a case registered against the Meta India head in Hyderabad?
The Hyderabad Cyber Crime Police registered a case following complaints alleging that Meta platforms (Facebook and Instagram) hosted AI-generated, morphed videos and derogatory posts targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Which laws were invoked in the FIR against Meta and account holders?
Police invoked Sections 66(C) and 67 of the Information Technology Act, along with Sections 353(2) and 336(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Has Meta responded to the police action?
Police investigators confirmed they are sending formal legal notices to Meta requesting account details, IP logs, and evidence preservation, while Meta representatives previously briefed authorities on content moderation protocols.
Source: ANI News Agency, Telangana State Police, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
