PR firms give fake social media followers to celebs: Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh

Apps for Facebook, Instagram, Whatsapp and other social networks on a smartphone. Credit: AFP

Several PR agencies provide "fake" social media followers to Bollywood celebrities or other "big people" and such followers are used for trolling and data theft, Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh said on Friday.

The Maharashtra police will probe into the matter, he said.

"Several PR agencies give fake followers, called bots, to Bollywood celebrities or some other big people. Such bots are used for trolling or data theft."

"Hence, the Maharashtra police will probe into this," Deshmukh said in a video message.