Hyderabad police have registered a case against Meta India's top executive, Arun Srinivas, over Facebook videos that depicted Prime Minister Narendra Modi in an abusive manner. The move marks a rare personal targeting of a senior global tech leader, coming as India tightens its grip on digital content regulation. Main Developments Deputy Commissioner of Police for Cyber Crimes V Aravind Babu confirmed the case on Friday, with authorities preparing to send a notice to Meta Platforms. The videos in question spread during a period of intense youth-led protests over leaked exam papers, which have already forced the resignation of India's education minister. Why Srinivas was named personally remains unclear, a step rarely taken against executives of global technology firms. Under India's tightened content rules, platforms now have just three hours to remove unlawful content flagged by courts or the government, down from the previous 36-hour window. Read also: Sindh Announces School Closure for Chehlum on August 4 Legal experts note that holding an individual responsible typically requires proof of an active role and knowledge of the content. Akash Karmakar, a technology law partner at Indian firm Panag & Babu, highlighted this standard as a key hurdle in such cases. Background This case builds on months of friction between Meta and Modi's government. The IT ministry summoned Meta executives this week after Facebook briefly restricted a post by the prime minister addressing the student protests, with officials demanding an explanation at the highest level. Meta attributed the restriction to an inadvertent block. India remains Facebook's largest market by user count, giving the platform significant influence and scrutiny in the country. Srinivas has served as Meta's managing director and India head since July 2025. The current case is among several filed by supporters of Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party alleging manipulated videos and images of the prime minister were circulating on Meta-owned platforms. Why It Matters The personal naming of a senior executive signals a significant escalation in India's approach to tech regulation. Companies operating in India now face increased legal exposure for user-generated content, potentially forcing them to adopt more aggressive content moderation strategies. For Meta, which has faced criticism over hate speech and misinformation management, this case adds another layer of operational risk in its most important market. The outcome could set a precedent for how other tech firms handle government relations and content disputes. What's Next Police are preparing to issue a formal notice to Meta Platforms regarding the case. Meta has not yet responded to requests for comment, and it remains unclear whether Srinivas will be required to appear before authorities. The broader question of how India's tightened content rules will be enforced against individual executives remains open. The case's progression will be watched closely by both tech companies and legal observers as a test of the new regulatory framework.