Hyderabad Cyber Crime DCP relieved after FIR against Meta India head
Synopsis
A Hyderabad Cyber Crime DCP was relieved of duties just 48 hours after registering FIRs against Meta India head Arun Srinivas over morphed content targeting PM Modi — a move the Telangana BJP has called 'vindictive' and a sign of the Congress government punishing an officer for doing his job.
Key Takeaways
Telangana government relieved Hyderabad Cyber Crime DCP V.
Aravind Babu on 1 August , ordering him to report to State Police Headquarters.
The action came 48 hours after the officer registered FIRs against Meta India head Arun Srinivas and multiple social media accounts.
FIRs allege circulation of morphed and objectionable content targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Facebook and Instagram .
Complaints were filed by BJP sympathiser S.
Aravind Reddy and Telangana BJP activist T.
Saikiran Goud , who submitted 20 social media links .
Telangana BJP chief N.
Ramchander Rao condemned the move as 'vindictive' in a post on X, calling it a 'banana republic' moment.
The Telangana government has relieved Hyderabad Deputy Commissioner of Police (Cyber Crimes) V. Aravind Babu of his duties on 1 August, two days after an FIR was registered against Meta India head Arun Srinivas and several Facebook and Instagram accounts over content allegedly targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The officer has been ordered to report to the State Police Headquarters, according to sources.
Background: The FIRs That Triggered the Action
The Hyderabad Cyber Crime Police registered cases against Arun Srinivas, the India head of Meta, as well as multiple social media accounts, for allegedly circulating morphed and objectionable videos and images of the Prime Minister on Facebook and Instagram. The FIRs were filed under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the IT Act.
The complaints were filed by S. Aravind Reddy, a businessman and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) sympathiser, and T. Saikiran Goud, a Telangana BJP activist. Both complainants stated they encountered digitally manipulated and obscene depictions of the Prime Minister while browsing Instagram. Goud submitted a list of 20 Facebook and Instagram links with his complaint, seeking action against Meta for hosting the content.
Why the Government Acted Against the Officer
According to sources, the Telangana government reportedly took serious note of the manner in which the FIRs were registered. The cases emerged in the context of the recent Cockroach Janta Party protests over the NEET paper leak, and the government is said to have viewed the registration of the FIRs — particularly against a major technology platform's country head — as procedurally contentious.
The officer's removal, coming just 48 hours after the FIRs were filed, has drawn sharp political attention and raised questions about the independence of the police machinery in the state.
BJP's Sharp Condemnation
Telangana BJP has strongly condemned the development, calling it a 'vindictive' move by the state's Indian National Congress (Congress) government. Telangana BJP chief N. Ramchander Rao, in a post on X, said: 'Congress is consumed by poison and hatred beyond redemption! Congress government has relieved a Hyderabad DCP after he registered FIRs against Meta and several social media accounts for posting derogatory, morphed and objectionable content targeting PM Modi ji.'
Rao further stated: 'The officer was merely following the law and discharging his duty. Yet, driven by its deep hatred for Modi ji, the Congress government chose to punish him for doing his job. Welcome to the banana republic of Telangana. The Bharatiya Janata Party strongly condemns this vindictive action.'
The state BJP's official X handle also described the action as 'Tughlaq-style' rule, accusing the Congress government of 'shielding rebellious forces' and 'intimidating impartial officials.'
What Happens Next
The FIRs against Meta India head Arun Srinivas remain in force, and the status of the investigation is expected to come under scrutiny given the DCP's removal. The episode is likely to intensify the political standoff between the ruling Congress and the BJP in Telangana, ahead of what observers note is a charged political climate in the state. Whether the transferred officer's successor pursues the cases with equal vigour will be closely watched.
Point of View
The optics of a state government acting against a police officer this quickly over BJP-initiated complaints creates a perception of political interference in law enforcement. Telangana Congress faces a dual accountability problem: it must explain both why the FIRs were filed in this manner and why the officer was removed so swiftly. The BJP, meanwhile, has a ready-made narrative of Congress shielding critics of Modi — and the timeline hands them that argument on a plate.
NationPress
1 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Hyderabad Cyber Crime DCP V. Aravind Babu relieved of duties?
The Telangana government relieved DCP V. Aravind Babu on 1 August, reportedly after taking a serious view of the manner in which FIRs were registered against Meta India head Arun Srinivas and several social media accounts. The action came just 48 hours after the FIRs were filed.
What were the FIRs against Meta India head Arun Srinivas about?
The FIRs alleged that Meta's platforms, Facebook and Instagram, hosted morphed, digitally manipulated, and obscene videos and images targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi. They were registered under sections of the BNS and the IT Act based on complaints from two BJP-linked individuals.
Who filed the complaints that led to the FIRs?
The complaints were filed by S. Aravind Reddy, a businessman and BJP sympathiser, and T. Saikiran Goud, a Telangana BJP activist. Goud submitted a list of 20 Facebook and Instagram links as part of his complaint.
What has the Telangana BJP said about the DCP's removal?
Telangana BJP chief N. Ramchander Rao condemned the move as 'vindictive' in a post on X, saying the officer was punished for simply following the law. The state BJP's official X handle called it 'Tughlaq-style' rule and accused the Congress government of intimidating impartial officials.
What happens to the FIRs against Meta now that the DCP has been removed?
The FIRs against Meta India head Arun Srinivas remain in force. However, the DCP's removal raises questions about whether the investigation will be pursued with the same vigour under new leadership, and the matter is likely to face continued political and legal scrutiny.
