For false and defamatory statements made about you — online, in print, or verbally — damaging your reputation or business.
Criminal court (Magistrate) where publication was made. Civil court for damages.
1 year for civil defamation — Limitation Act. Criminal complaint promptly.
This coverage is provided by a practicing advocate. Specific sections cited depend on the facts you provide during drafting.
A defamation legal notice is sent to a person, media outlet, or organisation that has published or spoken false statements of fact about you that have damaged your reputation. Defamation in India can be both a civil wrong (tort) — for which you can claim monetary compensation — and a criminal offence under Section 499–500 IPC, punishable with imprisonment up to 2 years. The notice demands retraction, apology, and/or cessation of the defamatory material.
Send this notice when someone has made false statements about you in print, on social media, in a news article, in a business communication, or in a speech — and those statements have damaged your personal or professional reputation. Online defamation (posts, YouTube videos, tweets) is increasingly actionable. Act promptly — continuing circulation of defamatory content worsens the damage.
Sections 499 and 500 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 define and penalise criminal defamation with imprisonment up to 2 years. Civil defamation is an actionable tort under common law, entitling the plaintiff to compensatory and aggravated damages. The Information Technology Act, 2000 (Section 79) provides immunity to intermediaries (platforms) for third-party content under safe harbour, but this immunity is conditional on takedown compliance. The Press Council Act, 1978 governs complaints against print media.
If the notice is ignored, you can file a criminal complaint under Section 499/500 IPC before the Magistrate and/or a civil defamation suit claiming substantial monetary damages. Courts can grant injunctions immediately restraining further publication. In cases involving social media, courts have ordered platforms to take down defamatory content and identify anonymous publishers.
In Indian law, defamation covers both spoken (slander) and written/published (libel) statements. Section 499 IPC does not distinguish between them — both are treated as defamation. However, written defamation (libel) is generally considered more serious because of its permanent and wider reach.
Yes. Under the first exception to Section 499 IPC, a true statement made for public good is not defamation. In civil defamation, justification (truth) is a complete defence. However, the burden of proving truth lies on the defendant.
Yes. Social media posts, tweets, WhatsApp forwards, and YouTube videos are all actionable if they contain false statements that damage your reputation. You can send a legal notice to the individual and seek a court order for takedown from the platform.
Yes. A company or corporation can sue for defamation if false statements have damaged its business reputation. However, a company cannot file a criminal complaint under Section 499 IPC — only individuals can. Civil defamation suits by companies are maintainable.
You can claim compensatory damages for actual loss (lost contracts, reduced business), general damages for injury to reputation, aggravated damages for malicious intent, and in exceptional cases, exemplary (punitive) damages.
Yes. Fair comment on a matter of public interest (reviews, criticism of public figures, editorial opinions) is protected. However, the comment must be based on facts, must be a genuine expression of opinion, and cannot be made maliciously.
Send a legal notice demanding retraction and apology. You can also file a complaint with the Press Council of India (for print) or the News Broadcasters & Digital Standards Authority (NBDSA) for TV/digital news. A civil defamation suit in the High Court is the primary legal remedy.
For criminal defamation, the limitation period is 3 years from the date of the defamatory publication. For civil defamation suits, it is also 1–3 years depending on the state. Acting promptly and sending a legal notice quickly is important to preserve your rights.
Please confirm all of the following before proceeding with your Defamation Notice notice:
Please confirm all eligibility conditions above to proceed. If you are unsure about any point, you may not be eligible for this type of notice.