NEW DELHI: Hyderabad Police have registered a criminal case against Meta India Managing Director Arun Srinivas following complaints over videos circulated on Facebook that allegedly depicted Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in an offensive and abusive manner. The case comes as India continues to tighten oversight of social media platforms and digital content.
Officials from the Hyderabad Cyber Crime Wing confirmed that the investigation was launched after multiple complaints alleged that manipulated and objectionable videos targeting the prime minister had been shared on Meta-owned Facebook. Authorities said they are preparing to issue a formal notice to Meta Platforms seeking details related to the content under investigation.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Cyber Crimes) V. Aravind Babu said the company would be asked to cooperate with investigators as legal proceedings move forward.
Investigation Begins Amid Political Unrest
The case has emerged during a period of heightened political tensions in India, where Prime Minister Modi has been facing criticism over a nationwide student movement triggered by alleged leaks in national examination papers.
The protests, described as one of the country’s largest youth-led demonstrations in more than a decade, have generated extensive debate across social media, with supporters and critics of the government actively sharing political content online.
Investigators are examining whether the disputed Facebook videos violated Indian laws governing online speech and digital platforms.
Executive Accountability Under New Digital Rules
Legal experts say it is uncommon for the head of a global technology company’s local operations to be personally named in a police case. However, India’s revised digital regulations have increased the legal responsibilities of platform operators.
Earlier this year, the government introduced stricter rules requiring social media companies to remove unlawful content identified by courts or government agencies within three hours, replacing the previous 36-hour compliance window.
Failure to comply may result in platforms losing legal protections that generally shield them from liability for user-generated content.
Experts note that establishing personal liability typically requires evidence that an executive had direct knowledge of or actively participated in the alleged violation.
Meta Faces Continued Government Scrutiny
The latest investigation adds to a series of disputes between Meta and the Indian government over online content. The company has previously faced criticism from officials over its handling of misinformation, political content, and hate speech on Facebook and Instagram.
Earlier this week, India’s Information Technology Ministry summoned Meta representatives after Facebook temporarily restricted a post by Prime Minister Modi discussing the nationwide student protests.
Meta later clarified that the restriction was the result of an operational error and restored the post, stating that it had been removed inadvertently.
Complaints Filed by BJP Supporters
According to local media reports, the police case follows complaints submitted by supporters of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), who alleged that manipulated videos and images of Prime Minister Modi were being widely circulated across Meta-owned social media platforms.
Investigators are expected to examine the authenticity of the disputed content, determine whether platform policies or Indian laws were violated, and seek responses from Meta during the course of the inquiry.
India Remains a Key Market for Meta
India is Facebook’s largest market by user base, making the country strategically important for Meta’s global operations. Arun Srinivas, who assumed the role of Managing Director and Head of Meta India in July 2025, oversees the company’s business and policy operations across the country.
The outcome of the investigation could have broader implications for how international technology companies manage political content in India and how senior executives may be held accountable under the country’s evolving digital governance framework.
The investigation is ongoing, and authorities have not announced any formal charges beyond the registration of the police case.
