New Delhi, March 25 -- China has restricted two co-founders of artificial intelligence startup Manus from leaving the country as regulators review whether Meta's $2 billion acquisition of the firm violated investment rules, the Financial Times reported.

Manus's chief executive Xiao Hong and chief scientist Ji Yichao were summoned to a meeting in Beijing with the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) this month, the FT said on Wednesday, citing people with knowledge of the matter.

After the meeting, the executives were told they were not allowed to leave China due to a regulatory review while they remain free to travel within the country, the report said.

Manus is actively seeking law firms and consultancies to help resolve ...