Abusive Language and Photoshopping

Last updated on May 28, 2024

If someone uses abusive language against you online or photoshops your image into content which is abusive or sexually coloured, that person can be punished1 under the law. The abusive language or picture or video should:

  • Relate to a feeling or revealing of a sexual interest or sexual desire against you or;
  • Relate to any excessive interest in sexual matters or;
  • Relate to content which would deprave or corrupt you, if you read or saw it online, like pornography.

The punishment for the first conviction is jail time up to three years and a fine up to five lakhs and for the second conviction, a jail term which may extend to five years and a fine up to rupees ten lakhs. 

  1. Section 67, Information Technology Act, 2000. []

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Kaushiki patel

July 19, 2022

This lady is continously calling and even threatening me to kill and set fire at my house

Nyaaya

August 8, 2022

You may refer to our explainer on First Information Report to lodge an FIR.

saransh

September 30, 2022

this guy a scammer probably keep using abusive language and I DONT LIKE IT i reported his contact number +92 341 9698987

Madhav reddy

June 20, 2023

Abusing on instagram and harassing. His instagram id is madhavreddy55.

Alka Manral

June 10, 2024

Firstly, make sure to keep the proof and gather further evidence. Take screenshots of the abusive post, comments, and any messages you might have received. Make sure the date and time are visible in the screenshots.

Report the abuse to Instagram: Instagram has mechanisms to report abusive content. You can report the post and the user who abused you. Here’s how to report abuse on Instagram: https://help.instagram.com/165828726894770

Various laws can apply to this situation in case you wish to pursue legal action –

1. Information Technology Act, 2000 (IT Act): Section 67 deals with publishing or transmitting obscene material in electronic form.
2. Section 499 of IPC: If this person is using these words to hurt your reputation in front of others, then you can file an FIR for Section 499 of IPC.
3. Section 503 of IPC: If this person is threatening to cause injury to your reputation so that you are scared or so that you do something you do not want to do, then you can file an FIR for section 503 of IPC.
3) Section 507 of IPC: If this person is using a fake account to threaten to cause injury to your reputation so that you are scared or so that you do something you do not want to do, you can file an FIR for Section 507 of IPC.
4) Section 509 of IPC: If you are a woman and this person tries to say any offensive words, or violates your privacy, then you can file an FIR for Section 509 of IPC.
5) Section 354A of IPC: If you are a woman and this person is making sexual remarks about you, then you can file an FIR for Section 354A of IPC. 6) Section 509B of IPC: If you are a woman from Chhattisgarh and this person does anything which is obscene or indecent so that he can harass you or cause annoyance or mental agony to you, then you can file an FIR for Section 509B of IPC.
To file the FIR, you can approach the Cyber Cell at the nearby police station. If there is no cyber cell, then you can file an FIR at any Police Station. You can also file a cyber complaint on this website – National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal: https://cybercrime.gov.in/. The website provides instructions as to filing the complaint and the documents necessary for it.
You can also call 1930, the national cybercrime helpline number, to report your problem.
You can call on the police helpline number 100.
In case of a woman, you can also call the helpline numer 1090 (National Woman Helpline) or 181 (Abhayam Helpline) or your state’s helpline number related to the same, which can be found at https://www.indiacustomercare.com/women-helpline-numbers.

Anil Kumar

November 26, 2023

एक लड़का मेरी इंस्टाग्राम I’d पर लगातार गलियां दे रहा है एक बार समझाने पर दूसरी I’d se gali de Raha है मैं क्या करूं please guide me

Anmol

December 1, 2023

One person calling continuously to lady using abuse language.

Mahima Dhillon

December 7, 2023

I have been harassed by this person
+91 9821532193
~ Pranav Chaudhary
Resident of Dubai, father lives in New Delhi

The conversation with him started through a matrimony website. He declined to meet due to his personal problems. I understood and declined the match.
Many days later, he texted me some of his achievement to which I texted him not to text me again and delete my number and I wasn’t interested in him because were opposites in nature. To which he replied:

Have you lost your Fuckkng mind you peice of shit. How dare you talk like that live in the real world apni jageh pata chal jayegi idiot saali who do you think you are? Things have ended bewakoof shuru hi kab hua tha jab dubai profile dekh ke Match mari gadhi kahin ki. I was talking about reintiating a first meeting to see what you’re like but tak aa rahi hai tatti ki bu yaha
We are done now. Foolish child

Sikha

December 7, 2024

hello, I’m sorry to hear the person in question used such foul language. In such a case, the first recourse for you is to block the person on the platform he texted you. If the situation escalates, the person may be punished for the sending of offensive messages. You may file a complaint or an FIR under Section 66A of the Information Technology Act, 2000,

Arpan Kumar

January 8, 2024

I am working in a school. I with my director and some teachers am being abused and photos hopping is done by someone on instagram.

Alka Manral

May 30, 2024

1) First, do not delete the evidence. Document or record any communication where the person is blackmailing you. Report to your local police station and file charges under section 354(c) of IPC for sharing your images online. As the person is also sending friend requests to your friends and publishing your images, you can file the charges of defamation under section 500 of IPC and section 506 of IPC for criminal intimidation. Under the IT Act you can file charges under section 67 and 66E for transmitting obscene materials in electric form and violation of privacy respectively.

2) If you face issues with getting an FIR registered, contact the police commissioner. You can also take help of the National commission for women, they help women deal with police for complaints such as these.
You can contact organizations such as https://stopncii.org/ or https://takeitdown.ncmec.org/ which help you take down the image if they are online on the internet.

Sikha

December 7, 2024

1) First, do not delete the evidence. Document or record any communication where the person is blackmailing you. Report to your local police station and file charges under section 354(c) of IPC for sharing your images online. As the person is also sending friend requests to your friends and publishing your images, you can file the charges of defamation under section 500 of IPC and section 506 of IPC for criminal intimidation. Under the IT Act you can file charges under section 67 and 66E for transmitting obscene materials in electric form and violation of privacy respectively.

2) If you face issues with getting an FIR registered, contact the police commissioner. You can also take help of the National commission for women, they help women deal with police for complaints such as these.
You can contact organizations such as https://stopncii.org/ or https://takeitdown.ncmec.org/ which help you take down the image if they are online on the internet.

Reema

January 25, 2024

A guy has been asking for bank details for transfer of money, later when denied for the respective thing, uses abusive language and has been calling repeatedly with different mobile number and uses offensive words against me.

Vamsi

February 26, 2024

He is from ICICI ban credit card division, he calls women and initiate sexual talks. Please take strict on him.

Alka Manral

April 26, 2024

The behavior described constitutes sexual harassment, which is a serious offense under Indian law. Specifically, it violates the provisions of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013. This law defines sexual harassment broadly and includes unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or any other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature.

The remedy for such behavior involves several steps:

Internal Complaints Committee (ICC): If the individual works within an organization, the affected woman can file a complaint with the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) set up by the organization as mandated by the law. The ICC is responsible for conducting an inquiry into the complaint and recommending appropriate action.

Police Complaint: If the harassment continues or if the organization fails to take appropriate action, the victim can file a police complaint. The police will investigate the matter and take legal action as per the law.
Legal Action: The victim can also file a civil or criminal case against the perpetrator seeking compensation for the harm caused and punitive action under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and other applicable laws.

Human Resources Department: If the perpetrator is an employee of a company, the victim can also approach the Human Resources department to report the harassment. The HR department should take immediate action to address the complaint and ensure a safe working environment for all employees.

Awareness and Prevention: Organizations should conduct regular awareness programs on sexual harassment prevention and create a supportive work environment where employees feel safe to report such incidents without fear of retaliation.

It’s crucial to take prompt and decisive action to address instances of sexual harassment to ensure the safety and well-being of all individuals in the workplace.

Vaibhav shukla

March 17, 2024

There’a girl in class 8th i was not interested in talking to her so she just started abusing me….gandi gandi gaaliyan mujhe mere family ko her instagram handle is
@anshika_aisha_

Chandru

May 31, 2024

My wife has taken loan through online application. But due to some financial issues she was not able to repay it before the due. So for that some one in the WhatsApp sent a photoshoping nude picture by editing her photo and black mailing. Pls assist me how to resolve it and take a sever action against the company.

Ravali

August 18, 2024

+9********0 this person keep on poking me with abusive words in text and WhatsApp please help me he is harrassing me from past 5yrs i don’t know what to do

Yash Avi Chawla

October 13, 2024

My brother got a call from this number 93********* and he is continuously abusing and giving physical threats to my brother and when i called on that number he started to Abuse me as well. Please do take action against such a person

Sachin

October 16, 2024

I am repeatedly receiving abusive messages from this number. The name of the person sending the message is Raju Gupta, who is a distant relative of ours. He has done such things many times before.

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