NEW DELHI: Police in the southern Indian city of Hyderabad have registered a case against Meta India Managing Director Arun Srinivas over videos shared on Facebook that allegedly portrayed Prime Minister Narendra Modi in an abusive manner, marking a significant escalation in India’s scrutiny of social media platforms and their executives.

According to Hyderabad Police, the case relates to multiple videos circulated on Facebook that allegedly contained offensive and manipulated content targeting the Indian prime minister. Cybercrime officials said legal proceedings have begun, and a formal notice will soon be issued to Meta Platforms seeking its response.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Cyber Crimes) V. Aravind Babu confirmed that authorities are preparing to serve the company with an official notice as part of the ongoing investigation.

Case Filed Amid Nationwide Student Protests

The development comes at a politically sensitive time, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi facing widespread criticism during one of India’s largest youth-led protest movements in recent years.

The demonstrations erupted after allegations of leaked national examination papers triggered public outrage, leading to the resignation of India’s education minister. Protesters have increasingly turned to social media platforms to express frustration, where political satire, criticism, and manipulated content have circulated widely.

Investigators are examining whether the videos violated India’s laws governing online content and digital platforms.

Why Was Meta India’s Chief Named?

Legal experts say it is unusual for the head of a multinational technology company to be personally named in such a case.

Technology law specialists note that individual executives are generally held liable only when investigators believe they had direct knowledge of, or an active role in, the alleged violation.

The case reflects India’s increasingly strict approach toward regulating digital platforms and holding technology companies accountable for content shared by users.

Tougher Social Media Rules

Earlier this year, India introduced stricter online content regulations that significantly reduced the time social media companies have to remove unlawful material flagged by courts or government authorities.

Under the revised rules, platforms must take down prohibited content within three hours, compared with the previous 36-hour deadline. Failure to comply could result in companies losing legal protections that shield them from liability for user-generated content.

The tighter regulations have increased pressure on global technology firms operating in India to strengthen content moderation and respond more quickly to government requests.

Growing Friction Between Meta and the Indian Government

The latest case adds to a series of disagreements between Meta and the Indian government over political content appearing on Facebook and Instagram.

Earlier this week, India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology summoned Meta executives after a Facebook post by Prime Minister Modi was briefly restricted. Government officials sought an explanation from the company regarding the incident.

Meta later said the restriction occurred inadvertently and restored the post, describing it as an unintentional error.

India’s Largest Facebook Market

India remains Facebook’s largest market globally in terms of users, making it one of Meta’s most important regions.

Arun Srinivas has served as Meta’s Managing Director and Head of India since July 2025 and oversees the company’s business operations across the country.

Local media reports suggest the latest police case follows complaints from supporters of Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), who alleged that manipulated videos and images of the prime minister were being widely shared across Meta-owned platforms, including Facebook and Instagram.

Investigation Underway

Authorities have not announced any charges against Meta as a company, and the investigation remains in its early stages. The police are expected to review the disputed content, seek responses from Meta, and determine whether any provisions of India’s cyber and information technology laws have been violated.

The case is likely to be closely watched by technology companies, legal experts, and digital rights advocates, as it could shape how social media platforms and their executives are held accountable under India’s evolving online content regulations.