Indian-Origin Woman Sadhana Gollapudi Falsely Accused of ‘Visa Fraud’ in Viral Post, US Official Reacts

An Indian-origin woman based in Houston, Texas, has found herself at the centre of a social media storm after an account on X falsely accused her of student visa fraud, prompting a direct response from the US Attorney for the Southern District of Texas confirming she is in fact a naturalised American citizen. The controversy began when an account using the handle "CyberGreen09" targeted Sadhana Gollapudi, a biomedical engineer who also performs Kuchipudi, a classical Indian dance form, branding her a "forever F1 student" and accusing her of exploiting the student visa system since 2014.

What The Viral Post Claimed

The post, shared on July 30, read, "Meet Sadhana Gollapudi, forever F1 student since 2014. Sadhana enjoys traditional barefoot crab dancing in Houston, Texas. For 12 years, she has played the student visa game, enrolling in multiple programs."

The account went further, alleging, "Works as a dancer & cash tutor violating her visa," and tagged the post with the hashtag #visafraud, sharing a video of Gollapudi performing Kuchipudi alongside the claims. DHS May End 60-Day H-1B Grace Period: What It Means for Indian Workers in the US.

US Attorney Steps In

As the post gained traction online, Aaron Reitz, the US Attorney for the Southern District of Texas, addressed the claims directly on August 4, clarifying that Gollapudi holds US citizenship and is not on a student visa at all.

"Thanks for flagging. My office looked. She's a naturalized US citizen, not here on student visa," Reitz wrote in response to the viral post.

US Attorney Confirms She Is Naturalised US Citizen

He added, "As US Atty over Houston, I take visa fraud seriously. We prosecute it to the fullest. Neither illegal aliens nor those who obtain legal status illegally are welcome on American soil." H-1B and L-1 Visa: US Considers Expanding Renewal Fee Rules for Large Employers.

Gollapudi Responds To Allegations

Gollapudi, who has more than 4,000 followers, broke her silence on Instagram on August 6, calling out the account for "spreading false and misleading claims" about her.

"The past few days have been incredibly difficult and upsetting for me and my loved ones. My content has been reposted without my permission on another social media platform (X, formerly Twitter) by an account that is spreading false and misleading claims about me," she wrote.

Sadhana Gollapudi Breaks Silence On Viral Visa Fraud Claims, Calls Posts False and Misleading

She further urged her followers to report the posts, writing, "If you come across these posts or any similar posts, I kindly ask you to report them for misinformation and unauthorized use." She also thanked supporters, adding, "Your support means more than you know. Thank you for standing by me."

Account Accused Of Being A Pakistani Troll Profile

The bio of the account "CyberGreen09" describes it as a "fan account" of Pakistani actor Hamza Sohail. Following the backlash, the account has been made private. Several users online accused the profile of being a Pakistani troll account that has a history of pushing anti-India content.

Many social media users also called on Reitz to investigate the account itself rather than simply clearing Gollapudi's name.

The Indian American Advocacy Council weighed in on X, stating, "An American woman was filmed, named and falsely branded a 'visa fraudster' before millions. The office of @USAttyReitz, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas, confirmed the allegation was false: she is a naturalized American citizen. Yet rather than condemn the person who publicly smeared her, Reitz used her exoneration to rant about 'illegal aliens' and who is 'welcome on American soil.'"

Another user questioned the lack of accountability for the account behind the claims, asking, "Will you be prosecuting the person who doxxed this young woman. What rights do American citizens have against this."

The episode has reignited debate online over misinformation targeting Indian-origin individuals in the US and the responsibility of officials in addressing false viral claims once they are debunked.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 08, 2026 11:02 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).