Hyderabad: Meta India and its country leadership are facing fresh legal scrutiny after Hyderabad Cybercrime Police registered FIRs naming Meta India head Arun Srinivas alongside operators of several Facebook and Instagram accounts over alleged circulation of morphed and objectionable posts targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protests linked to the nationwide paper leak controversy.
The cases, made public on July 31, come just days after Meta was questioned by the Centre over the temporary removal of a Facebook video posted from the Prime Minister’s official account. Together, the two developments have intensified attention on how Meta India moderates political content during periods of heightened public unrest.
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FIRs Follow Complaints Over Allegedly Manipulated Content
According to Hyderabad Cybercrime Police, the FIRs stem from complaints filed by S. Aravind Reddy, a 29-year-old businessman, and T. Saikiran Goud, a Telangana BJP activist and member of the party’s social media committee. The complainants alleged that while browsing Facebook and Instagram during the student protests, they encountered multiple digitally manipulated images and videos portraying the Prime Minister in an obscene, derogatory and misleading manner.
The complaints also alleged that abusive comments accompanying the posts amplified the offensive nature of the content and encouraged wider circulation on social media. Investigators have reportedly booked Meta India’s country head along with operators of several accounts as they examine the role played by both the platform and individual users.
One complaint states: “The comments contain offensive language, ridicule and indecent remarks directed at the Hon’ble Prime Minister and other individuals depicted in the manipulated content.“ It further alleges that “the above content appears to have been digitally altered or AI-generated and circulated on social media“.
Police have said the investigation is continuing, and the reports do not indicate that any court has yet determined the allegations to be true.
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Case Comes Days After Meta’s PM Modi Video Controversy
The FIRs arrive less than a week after Meta faced criticism from the Union government when a Facebook video posted by Prime Minister Modi regarding the paper leak protests briefly became unavailable on the platform.
After being summoned by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Meta acknowledged the issue, saying the video had been removed because of a technical error.
A Meta spokesperson said, “The content was removed in error and has since been restored“.
Following discussions with government officials, the company reportedly assured authorities that posts from high-profile public figures, including the Prime Minister, would receive additional oversight. According to reports, future moderation decisions involving such accounts will undergo review by at least two senior Meta officials before action is taken.
The timing has drawn attention because the police action against Meta India was announced only days after the company’s explanation to the Centre over the video removal.
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Police Probe Focuses on Facebook and Instagram Posts
According to the complaints, the disputed content was circulated during demonstrations organised by the Cockroach Janta Party over alleged examination paper leak irregularities. The complainants argued that the posts had the potential to spread misinformation, disturb public order and promote hostility among different sections of society.
The reports indicate that Hyderabad Cybercrime Police have registered two FIRs connected to the complaints. Authorities are examining content shared across Facebook and Instagram, while investigators are also attempting to identify additional account operators involved in distributing the allegedly manipulated material.
Some reports state that complainants submitted around 20 social media links to investigators for examination. Officials have not publicly released the FIR numbers or disclosed the exact legal provisions invoked beyond references to the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Information Technology Act.
The investigation is also expected to determine whether the disputed images and videos were digitally edited, AI-generated or otherwise manipulated before they appeared online.
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Broader Questions Around Platform Responsibility
The latest case adds to growing regulatory pressure on large technology companies operating in India as authorities step up scrutiny of online political content during sensitive public events.
While Meta did not create the content identified in the complaints, investigators appear to be examining whether the platform fulfilled its obligations after allegedly objectionable material was circulated on its services. Neither Hyderabad Police nor the complainants have publicly explained why Meta India’s country head was specifically named as a co-accused.
Digital rights advocates have previously argued that platforms must balance rapid content moderation with protections for lawful expression, while governments have increasingly demanded quicker removal of manipulated or misleading political content.
The investigation also follows earlier action by Delhi Police, which reportedly issued notices to several social media accounts and platforms seeking the removal of abusive posts linked to the protests and the July 20 “Sansad Chalo” march.
For Meta India, the latest FIRs represent another legal challenge at a time when the company is already facing closer government scrutiny over content moderation practices. Whether investigators ultimately establish criminal liability will depend on evidence gathered during the ongoing probe, including the origin of the disputed posts, the timing of any platform action and the role played by individual account operators.
