IAS officer gets notice over Ghibli art on Kancha Gachibowli land row

The Telangana police have served a notice to state tourism secretary Smita Sabharwal for reposting an AI-generated Ghibli art image of bulldozers clearing vegetation on 400 acres of land at Kancha Gachibowli on social media platforms.

- STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE

This came on a day when the Congress government received a rap on the knuckles in the Supreme Court over the Kancha Gachibowli land row.

Both the BJP and the BRS welcomed the court directive to halt tree felling and ensure wildlife protection.

IAS officer Smita Sabharwal, who currently heads the tourism department and is responsible for overseeing the Miss World beauty pageant, was served a notice under section 179 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita by the police.

Sabharwal had reposted an AI-generated Ghibli art image showing two deer and a peacock facing a fleet of bulldozers in front of the iconic mushroom rock on her 'X' handle.

An officer who is known for not mincing her words, Sabharwal, had reposted the image on 31 March. It was originally shared by an 'X' handle, "Hi Hyderabad."