HYDERABAD: The Gachibowli land controversy took a fresh twist on Wednesday as senior IAS officer and Secretary of the Department of Tourism and Culture, Smita Sabharwal, was issued a police notice for allegedly reposting misleading, AI-generated images on social media.
According to officials, Sabharwal had reshared digitally manipulated visuals on 31 March via the platform ‘X’. The images showed bulldozers operating inside the University of Hyderabad campus, with animals such as deer and peacocks appearing to flee in fear. Though initially perceived as authentic, the visuals were later confirmed to have been altered using artificial intelligence.
Following an in-depth investigation, police concluded that the content was part of a deliberate misinformation campaign. In response, the Telangana government adopted a firm stance and resolved to take legal action against those responsible for spreading fake content. A petition has also been filed in the Supreme Court, seeking permission to proceed legally against the individuals involved.
As part of this crackdown, the Gachibowli Police issued a formal notice to Smita Sabharwal under applicable legal provisions. The next course of action will depend on how the IAS officer responds to the summons.
