IAS Officer Summoned After Sharing AI Image On Contested Hyderabad Land

On April 12, 2025, the Cyberabad Police sent a notice to Smita Sabharwal, a senior IAS officer from the Telangana cadre who is currently the Principal Secretary for Tourism and Culture. She received the notice on March 31 after reposting an AI-generated image on X (previously Twitter). The picture, which was first shared online as part of a continuing public debate about a 400-acre plot of land in Kancha Gachibowli, near the University of Hyderabad (UoH), showed earthmoving machinery alongside wildlife, including deer and a peacock. Per Section 179 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), authorities summoned her as a witness in a case concerning the purported spread of false information on social media.

Following the Telangana government's plan to put the land up for sale for urban development, including IT infrastructure, the land in question has become the subject of discussion. The location, which is in Kancha Gachibowli's Survey No. 25, was first given to IMG Academies Bharata Pvt Ltd in 2004 but was later taken back by the state following a court case. The Telangana government's ownership was confirmed in May 2024 when the Supreme Court decided in its favor. Since then, a development layout and an environmental management plan have been established by the Telangana State Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (TGIIC).

Concerns over possible effects on the area's biological significance have prompted opposition to the idea from UoH teachers, student organizations, environmental organizations, and locals. Critics contend that the property helps to local biodiversity and is home to a variety of wildlife species. In response, demonstrations and petitions have been launched to demand the protection of the land.

Both the Supreme Court and the Telangana High Court are now hearing cases pertaining to the land. While the larger debate over striking a balance between ecological preservation and infrastructure expansion continues, the state insists that the construction won't negatively impact the surrounding environmental elements.