Kancha Gachibowli land protest: Dia Mirza in CM Revanth’s crosshairs; denies sharing fake visuals

Hyderabad: Actor Dia Mirza has denied allegations made by Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy that she shared fake or AI-generated visuals related to the Kancha Gachibowli land protest.

The controversy involves a student-led campaign opposing the government’s plan to auction nearly 400 acres of land in the ecologically sensitive area.

Dia Mirza Responds on X

In a post on X (formerly Twitter) late on Sunday, Mirza addressed the Chief Minister’s claims, stating that she had not shared any AI-generated content.

She wrote, “The CM of Telangana posted a tweet yesterday. He made certain claims about the situation at Kancha Gachibowli. One of them was that I had used FAKE AI-generated images/videos in support of the protest by students to protect biodiversity on the 400 acres of land the government wanted to auction.”

She added, “This is an false statement. I have not posted a single image or video that is AI-generated. The media and the Telangana government should verify their facts before making such claims.”

Mirza also clarified that her original post on the issue contained only a written statement: “Students are raising their voices for a future where nature thrives. Forests, not IT parks, offer young people a chance at a sustainable tomorrow. ‘Development’ at the cost of biodiversity is DESTRUCTION. Save Kancha Forest in Gachibowli, Hyderabad…”

Chief Minister’s Remarks

Mirza’s statement came in response to comments made by Chief Minister Revanth Reddy during a review meeting on Saturday. The meeting focused on the public response to the government’s plan to auction the Kancha Gachibowli land. According to a statement released by the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), the government believes the controversy was intensified by the spread of fake visuals on social media.

The CMO said, “Some people created fake videos and photos using Artificial Intelligence and circulated them widely on social media.”

It further stated that top police officials had briefed the Chief Minister on the content of these visuals, which allegedly included crying peacocks and injured deer running from bulldozers.

Celebrities and Public Figures Named

The CMO claimed that several public figures shared these visuals, believing them to be authentic, contributing to the spread of misinformation.

The statement said, “Even some famous persons in various fields presumed the fake videos and photos circulating on social media are true, and it added fuel to the lies.”

The list of individuals named by the government includes Union Minister G Kishan Reddy, former Minister G Jagadish Reddy, social media influencer Dhruv Rathee, and actors John Abraham, Dia Mirza, and Raveena Tandon.

Ongoing Protest

The student-led protest at Kancha Gachibowli has drawn widespread attention, with activists arguing that the land is a vital green space home to diverse flora and fauna. They are calling for the area to be preserved instead of developed.

Telangana government’s response has shifted some of the focus toward the authenticity of online content and the responsibilities of public figures in verifying information before sharing it. Dia Mirza is the first among those named to issue a public rebuttal.