Telangana Cyber Crime Police have registered two FIRs against Meta India’s head and operators of multiple Facebook and Instagram accounts over the alleged circulation of morphed, objectionable and misleading content targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the recent Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) protest.
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GONZALO FUENTES
Telangana’s Cyber Crime Police have registered two cases against Meta India’s head and operators of several Facebook and Instagram accounts over the alleged circulation of morphed and objectionable social media content targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the recent Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) protest.
The FIRs were registered on July 29 based on complaints filed by BJP supporters, who alleged that manipulated videos and images of the Prime Minister were being shared on social media with the intent to defame and mislead the public.
According to one of the complainants, around 20 Facebook and Instagram accounts had allegedly posted morphed, obscene, derogatory and misleading content targeting the Prime Minister. The complaint also sought action against Meta for hosting the content on its platforms.
Police have named Meta India’s head in the cases, while efforts are underway to identify and trace the individuals operating the social media accounts involved. The cases were registered in Telangana, where the Congress government led by Chief Minister Revanth Reddy is in power.
When contacted Meta, a spokesperson said, “We are in touch with the concerned agencies and are cooperating with them to resolve the matter.”
BJP distinguishes criticism from organised abuse
T. Saikiran Goud, a BJP leader, listed 20 links to the handles on social media platforms Facebook and Instagram, which he alleged postd ‘objectionable’ content, which contained morphed images.
“I found these posts and Reels objectionable and detrimental to the sovereignty, integrity and public order in the country. I filed a complaint with the Telangana Cyber Crime Police, appealing to them to conduct an investigation into the Insta and Facebook accounts that published the objectionable content,” Saikiran, Social Media Core Committee Member of the Bharata Janata Party’s State unit, told businessline.
He alleged that the content is derogatory towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Police invoke IT Act and BNS provisions
Acting on the complaint, the police have booked a case under Sections 66-C and 67 of the Information Technology Act (ITA) and Sections 353(2) and 336(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
He asked the police to preserve the electronic evidence relating to the questionable content and identify the individuals operating these accounts.
BJP says digital platforms must be held accountable
The BJP’s State unit has backed the complainant, saying that Freedom of Speech is not absolute and criticising Meta for allowing ‘objectionable’ content to circulate.
Even as a party functionary filed a case against Meta, the party’s State unit has said, “Meta may own the platform, but it certainly does not own India’s democratic values. No multinational corporation enjoys immunity from the laws of this country. If digital platforms fail to act responsibly despite being repeatedly alerted to objectionable content, they too must be held accountable in accordance with the law,” BJP Chief Spokesperson and Media in-charge N V Subhash has said.
“Freedom of speech can never become a licence for organised abuse and character assassination,” he said.
“Does repeated and organised public abuse directed at a constitutional office-holder fall within the ambit of free speech or does it amount to actionable misconduct,” he asked.
“The Constitution protects liberty, but it does not legitimise lawlessness. Rights come with responsibilities and accountability necessarily follows when legal limits are allegedly breached,” he said in a statement on Friday.
“We welcome criticism, political opposition and democratic debate. Criticism is not the issue. Organised and vulgar abuse masquerading as political activism is,” he noted.
Published on July 31, 2026
