Hyderabad cyber-crime police registered a criminal case against Meta India head Arun Srinivas on July 31, 2026 [1], [2].
The legal action highlights the growing pressure on social media executives in India to police user-generated content or face personal criminal liability.
Authorities said the case was filed after two individuals lodged complaints [4]. The charges stem from the alleged presence of morphed or derogatory posts targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Facebook and Instagram [3], [5]. Police officials said the content violated Indian law by using digitally altered images to target the prime minister [5].
While the case was filed by the Hyderabad cyber-crime police [1], [5], reports indicate the legal action is linked to protests held by the Citizens' Justice Peace (CJP) at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi [6].
The police said Meta failed to remove the offensive content promptly after it was flagged [5]. The nature of the offending material varies across reports, with some citing videos [3] and others describing morphed images and posts [5].
Meta India head Arun Srinivas is named in the proceedings as the responsible executive for the platform's operations in the country [1], [5]. The case reflects a broader trend of Indian authorities holding platform heads accountable for content that is deemed defamatory, or a threat to public order.
“Hyderabad cyber-crime police registered a criminal case against Meta India head Arun Srinivas”
This case underscores the stringent interpretation of intermediary liability in India. By targeting the head of Meta India personally, authorities are signaling that corporate immunity for user-generated content is conditional on rapid compliance with government and police takedown requests. This creates a precarious environment for tech executives operating in the region, as they may be held legally responsible for the speech of millions of users.
