Hyderabad Cybercrime Police have issued a notice to Meta seeking details about how its platforms detect and remove artificial intelligence-generated deepfake videos being used to promote fraudulent investment schemes.

The investigation follows a growing number of complaints from victims who say they were tricked by manipulated videos featuring well-known public figures allegedly endorsing fake trading platforms and investment opportunities. Authorities are examining how such content spreads across Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram and whether additional safeguards are needed to prevent financial fraud.

Fake Celebrity Videos Used to Lure Investors

Investigators have identified multiple cases where deepfake videos allegedly showed prominent personalities appearing to support fake financial schemes.

The probe includes manipulated content featuring Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, actor Amitabh Bachchan, and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi. Police said these videos were circulated online to create false credibility and encourage users to invest money through fraudulent platforms.

Owaisi had earlier approached Hyderabad Police after his identity was allegedly misused in a fake investment promotion. Similar deepfake-based scams have also targeted other public figures, including business leaders and celebrities, as fraudsters increasingly use trusted faces and voices to convince victims.

Fraud Pattern Follows a Common Method

Cybercrime investigators said many investment scams follow a similar approach. Criminals first use deepfake videos or fake advertisements to attract victims, then move conversations to private messaging platforms such as WhatsApp or Telegram.

Victims are often shown fake trading dashboards displaying artificial profits. When they attempt to withdraw funds, scammers demand additional payments in the form of taxes, processing charges, or verification fees.

Authorities have warned that the realistic appearance of AI-generated videos makes these scams more difficult for ordinary users to identify.

Meta Asked to Explain Detection Measures

A Meta representative has already appeared before investigators, who presented details of cases involving significant financial losses. Police have now requested technical experts from the company to explain the systems used to identify, monitor, and remove AI-generated fraudulent content.

The investigation reflects a broader effort by Telangana cybercrime authorities to examine the responsibilities of major technology platforms in preventing online fraud.

Officials are also reviewing whether social media companies and digital platforms are taking sufficient preventive measures rather than responding only after victims report losses.

Growing Pressure on Technology Platforms

The action against Meta follows similar scrutiny of other technology companies. In a separate investigation, Cyberabad Police questioned processes related to fraudulent stock-trading applications that allegedly caused financial losses after appearing on an app marketplace.

Together, these cases indicate a stronger focus by law enforcement agencies on the role of digital platforms in enabling cybercrime through advertisements, applications, and user-generated content.

Authorities are also examining the impact of updated Indian technology regulations that increase obligations for online platforms regarding synthetic media, harmful content detection, and user safety.

Experts Warn of Rising AI Fraud Threat

Cybersecurity experts have described AI-generated deepfakes as one of the fastest-growing threats in the online fraud landscape.

Experts warn that criminals can now create convincing videos and voice recordings of trusted individuals, making victims more likely to believe false investment claims.

Authorities have advised users to verify investment opportunities through official sources, avoid transferring money based solely on online promotions, and remain cautious of offers promising unusually high returns.

Investigation Continues

Hyderabad Cybercrime Police said the investigation will focus not only on identifying scam operators but also on understanding how fraudulent content reaches large audiences.

Officials believe cooperation between law enforcement agencies and major technology companies will be essential to reducing organized cyber fraud and improving digital safety for users.

The Sambhal district administration has cancelled four government land leases issued more than three decades ago after an official investigation found alleged irregularities in the classification and allotment of Ganga river land.

The action follows an inquiry that concluded approximately 31 bigha of land in Surpur village of Gunnour tehsil was leased after its original revenue classification was allegedly altered, allowing land categorized as riverbed to be treated as agricultural property.

Inquiry Reveals Alleged Record Manipulation

The decision was taken by the Additional District Magistrate (ADM) based on an investigation conducted by the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), Gunnour.

Officials found that while the current revenue records listed the land as transferable agricultural property, older consolidation documents identified it as Category-6(1) submerged river land, making it ineligible for such allotments.

Following the findings, the administration ordered the cancellation of all four leases and directed revenue officials to restore the land’s original classification in official records.

Leases Issued in 1991 Declared Invalid

According to the inquiry, the disputed leases were granted on November 17, 1991, in the names of Shrinivas, Sher Singh, Shakuntala, residents of Surpur village, and Prakash Chandra of Patei Kayasth village.

Authorities stated that the allotments did not comply with the provisions of Section 128 of the Uttar Pradesh Revenue Code, 2006, prompting their cancellation.

Officials said corrective entries are now being made in the revenue records to reflect the land’s original legal status.

Wider Probe Into Ganga Riverbank Land Allotments

The latest action is part of a broader investigation into alleged irregularities involving government land located along the Ganga riverbank in Sambhal district.

Earlier investigations uncovered suspected illegal allotments involving nearly 845 bigha of government land in Sukhailla village under Gram Panchayat Asadpur, where 162 leases are also under scrutiny.

Investigators believe a similar pattern may have been followed in multiple cases, with riverbed land allegedly reclassified as agricultural land before being leased to individuals.

Field inspections reportedly found that much of the land was unsuitable for conventional farming and was instead being used for activities such as sand mining.

Government Land Worth ₹18 Crore Under Review

District officials estimate that approximately 850 bigha (around 71.5 hectares) of government land, valued at nearly ₹18 crore, is currently under investigation.

Authorities have launched a comprehensive review of historical land leases issued across villages situated along the Ganga river in the Rajpura, Gunnour, and Junawai blocks.

The objective is to determine which allotments were made legally and identify cases where land records may have been manipulated.

Officials’ Role Also Being Examined

The investigation has also raised questions about the possible involvement or negligence of officials from the revenue and consolidation departments.

District authorities said responsibility will be fixed after the inquiry is completed, and legal or departmental action will be taken against anyone found to have violated land allotment rules.

Officials indicated that the ongoing review could reveal additional cases involving unauthorized occupation or irregular leasing of government land.

The administration has reiterated its commitment to restoring government property and ensuring transparency in land management across the district.

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has issued a warning to NEET UG 2026 candidates and their parents against submitting fake, altered, or AI-generated OMR sheets while raising objections related to examination results.

The examination authority said that candidates found providing fabricated documents or misleading information during the verification process could face legal consequences.

The warning comes after several students approached the agency with complaints alleging discrepancies between their expected scores and the marks published in the final results.

NTA Finds Suspicious Documents During Verification

According to the NTA, some candidates submitted OMR sheets while requesting score verification, but officials found that certain documents appeared to be manipulated or artificially generated.

The agency clarified that only original OMR sheets issued during the examination process will be accepted for reviewing complaints.

NTA officials said they are examining all grievances carefully and will consider only verified examination records while deciding on score-related concerns.

Students Raise Questions Over NEET UG Results

After the announcement of NEET UG 2026 results, several candidates reported differences between their estimated marks based on the official answer key and their final scorecards.

Some students claimed that their expected scores were significantly higher than the marks awarded in the results.

In some reported cases, candidates alleged that uploaded OMR sheets did not match their original answer sheets or that the displayed scores were inconsistent with their calculations.

The complaints prompted several students and parents to seek clarification and request a detailed review of the evaluation process.

AI-Generated Fake Records Create New Challenge

The NTA has highlighted the growing misuse of artificial intelligence tools to create fake examination documents.

Officials said digitally altered OMR sheets and fabricated records could create difficulties in identifying genuine grievances and may affect the integrity of the complaint resolution system.

The agency advised candidates to avoid using unofficial documents or modified materials while submitting objections.

Candidates found involved in producing false evidence may face action under applicable laws, the NTA warned.

NEET UG 2026 Conducted Again After Paper Leak Allegations

The NEET UG 2026 examination process faced controversy after allegations of a paper leak led authorities to cancel the original exam held on May 3.

A re-examination was conducted on June 21 for affected candidates, following which results were announced on July 16.

After the controversy, the government announced plans to move future NEET UG examinations from the traditional pen-and-paper format to a computer-based testing (CBT) system.

Verification Process Continues

The NTA said the review of complaints submitted by candidates is still underway and further decisions will be taken after completing the verification of all documents.

The agency has urged students to rely only on official communication channels and submit genuine records while seeking clarification about their results.