Meta India head named in Telangana cases over ‘derogatory’ posts targeting PM Modi

Acting on complaints from BJP supporters, Telangana’s cybercrime police booked the operators of several Facebook and Instagram accounts.

A protest in Delhi against PM Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah (PTI).A protest in Delhi against PM Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah (PTI).

Telangana’s cybercrime police have registered two cases over alleged morphed and objectionable social media content targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) protests, naming operators of several Facebook and Instagram accounts, as well as Meta India’s head.

In response to queries from the Indian Express, a Meta spokesperson said, “We are in touch with the concerned agencies and are cooperating with them to resolve the matter”.

Meanwhile, sources said that some content was removed because Meta got valid legal orders to remove the same. The source added, “The content which has not yet been removed were found to be non-violative of Meta’s policies”.

The cases were registered on July 29 on complaints by BJP supporters who alleged that manipulated videos and images of PM Modi were circulated on social media. In Telangana, a Congress government under Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy is in power.

The police are, however, tracing operators of the social media handles.

BJP spokesperson N V Subhash said “democracy permits disagreement not digital lynching”.

“We welcome criticism, political opposition and democratic debate. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has perhaps faced more criticism than any other political leader in contemporary India. Criticism is not the issue. Organised and vulgar abuse masquerading as political activism is,” Subhash added.

‘Obscene, derogatory and misleading’

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One of the complainants said 20 Facebook and Instagram accounts were allegedly using morphed content and sought action against Meta for hosting it.

“On behalf of Telangana BJP karyakartas, we seek an investigation into certain Instagram accounts that have been publishing and circulating content which, in our opinion, is derogatory towards the Prime Minister and appear to promote narratives that may be prejudicial to the sovereignty, integrity and public order of the nation,” the BJP functionary wrote in his complaint.

He requested the police to identify the individuals operating the accounts and initiate legal action against them.

Another BJP supporter alleged that some Instagram handles circulated “obscene” videos and images. “I came across multiple morphed and digitally manipulated videos and images depicting the Prime Minister, US President and former Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan in an obscene, derogatory and misleading manner. Such content has the potential to mislead the public,” he wrote in his complaint.

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The Telangana Police have invoked relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and IT Act, naming operators of identified accounts and Meta’s India head as co-accused.

Police sources said that all links cited in the complaints had become inactive by July 30.

Nikhila Henry is an Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, based in Hyderabad. With a career spanning 17 years, she has established herself as an authoritative voice on South Indian affairs, specialising in the complex intersections of politics, education, and social justice. Experience & Career: Nikhila commenced her journalism career in 2007 as an education correspondent for The Times of India in Hyderabad,where she gained recognition for her coverage of student politics. Her professional trajectory includes a four-year tenure at The Hindu, where she focused on minority affairs and social welfare. In 2019, she took on a leadership role as the South Bureau Chief for The Quint, where she directed regional coverage across all five South Indian states. Her expansive career also includes a tenure at the BBC in New Delhi and contributions to prestigious international outlets such as The Sunday Times (London) and HuffPost India. Expertise & Focus Areas Nikhila’s reportage is marked by a deep-seated understanding of grassroots movements and institutional policy. Her core focus areas include: Regional Politics: Comprehensive analysis of the socio-political dynamics across South India. Education & Student Movements: Chronicling the evolution of Indian academics and the rise of youth activism. Minority Affairs: Rigorous reporting on the welfare, rights, and challenges facing marginalized communities. National Beat: Elevating regional stories to national prominence through investigative and on-ground reporting. Authoritativeness & Trust A respected figure in Indian media, Nikhila is not only a seasoned reporter but also an accomplished author and editor. She authored the critically acclaimed book The Ferment: Youth Unrest in India and edited Caste is Not a Rumour, a collection of writings by Rohith Vemula. Her dual background in daily news reporting and long-form authorship allows her to provide readers with a nuanced, historically-informed perspective on contemporary Indian society. Find all stories by Nikhila Henry here. ... Read More

 

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