Google India Head Named Co-Accused in Hyderabad Cyber Fraud Cases

Hyderabad cybercrime police have named Google India’s head, Preeti Lobana, as a co‑accused in three separate fraud investigations. Victims reported losses totaling more than Rs 48 lakh after downloading apps that were promoted as legitimate trading platforms on the Google Play Store. A later case involved a 58‑year‑old public‑sector employee who lost Rs 7.95 lakh investing through the GVS Institution app listed on the store.

The police filed charges under India’s Information Technology Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, alleging negligence by Google for failing to prevent fraudulent apps from being published. Google responded that only one of the cited apps was actually available on the Play Store, that other apps had been removed or suspended, and that it conducts extensive safety checks on all listings. The nodal officer has been booked for negligence, and a meeting with senior Google executives is pending to explain the platform’s verification procedures.