Hyderabad Cyber Crime Police have registered two criminal cases against the operators of several Facebook and Instagram accounts, along with Meta’s India head, over the alleged circulation of morphed, objectionable and misleading content targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-led agitation over the alleged NEET paper leak.
The FIRs were filed after two Telangana BJP supporters complained that manipulated videos and digitally altered images of the Prime Minister were being widely shared on Meta-owned platforms. Police said they have invoked relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Information Technology Act, issued notices to Meta seeking details of the accounts involved, and begun efforts to identify those operating them.
Investigators said the reported links had become inactive by Thursday evening, but the probe remains underway to establish responsibility for creating and circulating the content. The development comes amid increased scrutiny of Meta’s content moderation practices in India, following the company’s recent acknowledgement that it had mistakenly restricted a Facebook video posted by Prime Minister Modi during the NEET paper leak protests before restoring it.
BJP Complaints Trigger Investigation
The cases stem from two separate complaints lodged with Hyderabad Cyber Crime Police by Telangana BJP supporters, who alleged that several social media accounts circulated fabricated and digitally manipulated content aimed at the Prime Minister during the nationwide CJP-led protests over the alleged NEET examination paper leak.
One of the complainants, T. Saikiran Goud, a member of the Telangana BJP’s social media core committee, submitted around 20 Facebook and Instagram links to the police and sought legal action against both the account operators and Meta.
In his complaint, Goud alleged that the posts were “derogatory towards the Prime Minister” and promoted narratives that could be “prejudicial to the sovereignty, integrity and public order of the nation.” He requested the police to identify those behind the accounts and initiate legal proceedings.
In a separate complaint, BJP supporter S. Aravind Reddy of Nampally alleged that multiple Instagram accounts had circulated “obscene” and digitally manipulated videos and images featuring Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
According to his complaint, the content also included morphed visuals of US President Donald Trump and former Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, which he claimed had the potential to mislead the public by presenting fabricated visuals as genuine. Based on both complaints, Hyderabad Cyber Crime Police registered two FIRs under relevant provisions of the BNS and the Information Technology Act.
A cybercrime investigator confirmed that notices have been served to Meta seeking details related to the reported accounts. “We have issued a notice to Meta about the cases registered and the objectionable links reported by the complainants.
We are also trying to collect details about the accused to identify and arrest them,” the officer said. Police further stated that although the reported links had become inaccessible by Thursday evening, investigators continue to trace those responsible for uploading and sharing the content, while examining whether platform-level responses were adequate after the material was flagged.
Probe Continues Amid Meta Scrutiny
The Hyderabad investigation unfolds against the backdrop of heightened public debate around social media accountability, misinformation and platform moderation during politically sensitive events. The CJP-led protests over the alleged NEET paper leak have generated extensive discussion across digital platforms, with competing narratives from political groups, student organisations and supporters circulating online.
As authorities investigate the latest complaints, they are expected to examine account ownership, technical records and the timeline of content moderation before determining whether further legal action is warranted.
The FIRs also come shortly after the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) sought an explanation from Meta after a Facebook video posted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi was briefly restricted during the NEET paper leak protests.
The company later stated that the restriction resulted from an error, restored the post and expressed regret. That episode renewed questions about the responsibilities of digital platforms in balancing freedom of expression with timely moderation of misleading or unlawful content.
The Hyderabad police have not publicly disclosed the exact legal provisions invoked in the FIRs, but officials confirmed that the cases involve offences related to the publication and circulation of allegedly objectionable digital material under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Information Technology Act.
No arrests have been announced so far, and investigators have indicated that the inquiry remains at a preliminary stage. The outcome is likely to depend on digital forensic analysis, information obtained from Meta and the identification of those operating the accounts named in the complaints.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The rapid spread of manipulated content online presents a genuine challenge for democratic societies, particularly when it involves public figures, sensitive political issues or emotionally charged events. Equally important, however, is ensuring that every investigation is guided by due process, transparency and respect for constitutional rights.
As digital platforms become central to public discourse, they carry a growing responsibility to respond swiftly to reports of harmful or misleading content while remaining transparent about how moderation decisions are made. At the same time, law enforcement agencies must investigate allegations fairly and independently, ensuring that accountability does not come at the cost of free expression or legitimate criticism.
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