False Reports or Complaints for Child Sexual Abuse

Last updated on Oct 7, 2022

Trigger Warning: The following content contains information on sexual and physical violence which some readers may find disturbing.

It is illegal to falsely complain about child sexual abuse or provide false information against another person alleging that they have sexually abused a child if they haven’t done so. The punishment for doing this is  jail time of one year and/or a fine1.

If the false complaint or false information is made with the intention to humiliate, extort, threaten, blackmail, or defame someone, the complainant can be punished with either a jail time of 6 months and/or a fine2.

However, if a child makes a false complaint or provides false information, the child cannot be punished3.

  1. Section 22(3), The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012.[]
  2. Section 22(1), The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012.[]
  3. Section 22(2), The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012.[]

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