Authorities Probe 20 Social Media Accounts for Sharing Altered Footage of Prime Minister

Hyderabad cyber crime officials have opened a case surrounding twenty online accounts accused of disseminating an edited video that depicts Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a defamatory manner. The investigation was triggered by a complaint filed by BJP officials, who claimed the content threatens India's unity and public peace.

The complaint, filed on July 31, cites instructions from the BJP's Telangana social media coordinator Sumiran Kavi and includes signatures from party workers Saikiran Goud, Ajay and Ashwin. The complainants emphasized the need for a swift probe and legal sanctions against those responsible.

Under the Information Technology Act and Indian Penal Code, the FIR was lodged, empowering police to seize digital evidence and trace the originators of the morphed material. Early findings indicate coordinated sharing across multiple platforms, prompting concerns over the spread of misinformation.

In parallel, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has demanded a detailed response from Meta regarding a temporary suspension of a Modi post on Facebook, requesting both policy and technical explanations within the next ten days.