The image in question was reposted by Smita Sabharwal on 31 March from the X handle named Hi Hyderabad. It depicted bulldozers in front of the Mushroom Rock inside the UoH, with a peacock and a deer looking on in Ghibli style.
Published Apr 16, 2025 | 1:45 PM ⚊ Updated Apr 23, 2025 | 8:47 PM
Smita Sabharwal.
Synopsis: The Telangana Police served a notice to Smita Sabharwal IAS for reposting an AI-generated image on social media regarding the bulldozing of the 400-acre land in Kancha Gachibowli. An officer declined to disclose the contents of the notice.
The Telangana Police served a notice to state’s Principal Secretary of Youth Advancement, Tourism, and Culture Smita Sabharwal IAS, for reposting an AI-generated Ghibli image on social media regarding the bulldozing of the 400-acre land in Kancha Gachibowli, adjacent to the University of Hyderabad (UoH).
“Yes, we have served her a notice under Section 179 of the BNSS (Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita) regarding the sharing of an AI-generated image,” Gachibowli Police Station Station House Officer (SHO) Mohammad Habibullah Khan told South First, on Wednesday, 16 April.
However, the officer declined to disclose the contents of the notice. “It can’t be disclosed now,” he said.
The image in question was reposted by Smita Sabharwal on 31 March from the X handle named Hi Hyderabad. It depicted bulldozers in front of the Mushroom Rock inside the UoH, with a peacock and a deer looking on.
#Ghibli Story On #Hyderabad Today! #SaveHCU #SaveHCUBioDiversity#SaveHyderabadBioDiversity 🏞️ pic.twitter.com/ozbmxvSZ7D
— Hi Hyderabad (@HiHyderabad) March 31, 2025
Section 179 of the BNSS allows a police officer investigating a case to summon witnesses to the police station to provide their statements.
Screengrab of the photo shared by Smita Sabarwal.
Following protests at the UoH on 30 March over the proposed development of 400 acres of forest land in Kancha Gachibowli, several images and videos were circulated on social media. Some of these visuals — generated using artificial intelligence — were widely shared to evoke sympathy for the wildlife reportedly inhabiting the area.
The Telangana government has since raised serious concerns over the spread of such AI-generated content. Officials allege that fabricated videos and images — depicting emotional scenes such as crying peacocks and injured deer fleeing from bulldozers — were used to mislead the public and incite unrest. The land in question, initially proposed for IT infrastructure, has already faced legal challenges, including a Supreme Court stay on its auction.
Sabharwal was among those who shared such visuals. She reposted an AI-generated image on 31 March.
The government claimed that several prominent individuals — including celebrities John Abraham, Dia Mirza, and Raveena Tandon, social media influencers such as Dhruv Rathee, and political leaders such as Union Minister Kishan Reddy — unintentionally shared these AI-generated visuals, contributing to the spread of misinformation. The nature of several of these images is clearly AI-generated.
Multiple cases have been registered at the Gachibowli Police Station under the Cyberabad Commissionerate in connection with the dissemination of these images.
On Wednesday, the Supreme Court strongly criticised the Telangana government over its handling of the Kancha Gachibowli land controversy. The court made it clear that it was less interested in the interpretations of bureaucrats and ministers and more focused on the protection of wildlife in the area.
The bench expressed shock at videos showing herbivores being attacked by stray dogs, questioning why the state undertook deforestation during a three-day holiday. Justice BR Gavai emphasised that the court would prioritise a restoration plan over any justification offered by the government, warning that failure to act could result in imprisonment for state officials.
Invoking Article 142 of the Constitution, Justice Gavai underlined the Court’s resolve to ensure justice and environmental protection. “Let there be green lungs in the city,” he declared, stressing the importance of urban green spaces.
The Court had already taken suo motu cognisance of the issue on 3 April and directed that all activity on the land be halted. It demanded a response from Telangana’s Chief Secretary Shanthi Kumari, warning of potential action for any administrative lapses. A Centrally Empowered Committee (CEC) was also tasked with inspecting the site, which it did on 10 April.
During the latest hearing, the court asked if the state had permission to fell trees in the area. Representing the state, senior advocate AM Singhvi claimed that permission had been granted — except for a small number of trees. However, advocate Parmeswar rebutted this, accusing the state of self-certification and revealing a ₹10,000 crore mortgage against the land.
The court maintained its focus on environmental damage and advised the state to submit a concrete restoration and conservation plan, including measures by the Wildlife Warden to safeguard the area’s fauna.
It cited Mumbai’s Sanjay Gandhi National Park as an example of preserving urban biodiversity and reiterated the urgent need to maintain green spaces in fast-growing cities like Hyderabad.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil.)
