Indian Police Register Case Against Meta India Head Over Facebook Posts Targeting PM Modi

NEW DELHI: Police in the southern Indian city of Hyderabad have registered a criminal case against Meta India’s head, Arun Srinivas, over Facebook posts that allegedly portrayed Prime Minister Narendra Modi in an abusive manner, marking the latest escalation in tensions between the Indian government and the U.S.-based technology company.

According to Hyderabad police, the case was filed following complaints by supporters of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), who alleged that multiple objectionable and manipulated videos targeting the prime minister were circulated on Facebook. Authorities said Meta would be issued a formal notice as part of the investigation.

The legal action comes amid heightened scrutiny of social media platforms in India after the government recently introduced stricter internet regulations requiring companies to remove content identified as unlawful within three hours in order to retain legal protections.

Legal experts noted that holding a company executive personally liable would generally require evidence demonstrating direct involvement or knowledge of the alleged violations. It remains unclear why Srinivas was specifically named in the case. Meta had not issued an immediate response to the police action.

The development follows another recent dispute between Meta and the Indian government after Facebook briefly restricted a post by Prime Minister Modi related to nationwide student protests over leaked examination papers. Indian authorities subsequently summoned Meta executives to explain the incident, reflecting growing friction over content moderation policies.

India is Meta’s largest market by Facebook users, making the country strategically significant for the company as it navigates increasing regulatory oversight and political scrutiny.