Blogs
How to File a Cyberbullying Case in India
Ritika
January 30, 2025
“Not all forms of abuse leave bruises." This powerful statement perfectly encapsulates the emotional and psychological scars that cyberbullying can leave behind. In an era where technology has seamlessly integrated into our lives, it has also brought with it advanced forms of abuse, including cyberbullying.
Cyberbullying is not unknown to us. From hateful comments on social media to online harassment, cyberbullying continues to grow, affecting individuals of all ages. Unlike physical abuse, cyberbullying leaves no visible marks, making it harder for victims to confront and combat the issue.
If you or someone you know has been a victim of cyberbullying in India, it is essential to know your rights and the legal process to take action.
This blog will walk you through the steps to file a cyberbullying case, empowering you to stand up against this digital age threat and seek justice.
What is Cyberbullying?
Cyberbullying is a form of cybercrime that involves using technology to bully someone. It can take place through social media, messaging platforms, gaming platforms, etc.
It is not accidental or intended as a joke; rather, it is done deliberately to intimidate, harass, and harm the victim. Cyber Bullying can have a long-lasting traumatic impact on the victim.
Cyberbullying in India
According to 'Silent Screams: A Narrative Review of Cyberbullying Among Indian Adolescents' a research paper published in 2024, 'India, with its growing digital economy, has experienced a rapid rise in cybercrimes; among them, cyberbullying has emerged as the most alarming trend.
According to the McAfee research paper 'Cyberbullying in Plain Sight' Cyberbullying has reached alarming levels, with more than 1 in 3 children facing cyber racism, sexual harassment, and threats of physical harm as early as the age of 10—making India the #1 nation for reported cyberbullying cases in the world.
Types of Cyberbullying
- Harassment: The cyberbully sends indecent and offensive messages to the victim, causing distress and emotional harm
- Outing: Outing refers to that kind of cyber bullying in which confidential information of the target is revealed in the world without his or her consent.
- Trickery: The bully tricks the victim into trusting them, only to later disclose their secrets with malicious intent.
- Cyberstalking: The bully closely monitors the victim’s online activity before proceeding to harass them.
- Masquerading or Impersonation: In Impersonation, the bully makes a profile copying the individual’s identity and misuses the name of the target. This leads to defaming the reputation of the target.
- Dissing: The bully posts false information about the target. This is done to defame the target. The bully reaches out to friends and disses the target.
- Trolling: People comment on the post by the target. They make fun of the target, making him or her feel embarrassed and mentally depressed.
- Flaming: Flaming is also known as Roasting. In this type of cyber bullying, the target gets bullied on social media or group chat with inappropriate language.
- Exclusion: In exclusion, the bully removes the target from the social group and then trolls. The bully tries to spread fake news about the target.
- Frapping: The bully gains access to an individual's account and posts inappropriate content to defame them.
- Deepfake using AI: Deepfake technology uses artificial intelligence to generate manipulated images, videos, or audio that appear authentic but are actually fabricated.
How to File a Case for Cyberbullying in India?

- Document Evidence: Gather all the evidence of cyber bullying. This includes all the screenshots of messages, posts, videos and any other form of evidence.
- Report to the Platform: You can report to the platform if the bullying is done through any social media platform.
- Send Legal Notice: You can also send a legal notice to the bully to cease the harmful behavior. This can help in getting quicker resolutions.
- File a Complaint with the Cybercrime Cell: Some areas have dedicated cybercrime cells to handle such complaints. Cyber Crime Portal, You can find the state cybercrime portal state wise, Nodal cyber cell officer and grievance officer’s number here.
- File a Police Complain: Visit the nearest police station to file a complaint against cyberbullying. Make sure you provide all the necessary evidence to support your case. Facing cyberbullying? Get free legal consultation and take action today!
Causes of Cyberbullying
- Anonymity on the internet: The internet provides anonymity to cyber bullies which is the main reason for cyberbullying. Hiding behind fake profiles, not having the fear of getting caught makes them feel empowered to do anything.
- Peer Pressure: People generally fall into this trap by peer pressure. Multiple times teens get heavily influenced by peers to engage in cyberbullying activities.
- For power’s desire: Cyberbullies often harass others to exert dominance and feel powerful. This may be coming from their own bad experiences. They may be trying to make themselves feel important or boost their self-esteem.
- Lack of Empathy: Since cyberbullying occurs online without face-to-face interaction, bullies often fail to recognize the emotional impact of their actions on victims.
- Retaliation: A bully can also be motivated by the desire to take revenge. If the bully has previously been treated badly or been bullied by someone, they may choose to take revenge and retaliate.
Repercussions of Cyber Bullying for Victims
- Psychological Effect: Victims may suffer from long term psychological issues as a repercussion of cyber bullying. They can feel depression and anxiety which can lead to despair.
- Health Issues: Victims may suffer from severe health issues such as anxiety, insomnia or eating disorders.
- Academic Consequences: Cyberbullying can negatively affect academic performance. Victims may avoid school and struggle to concentrate on their studies.
- Risk of Self-Harm: Victims of cyberbullying are at a higher risk of self-harm. These victims can think of suicidal thoughts more often than non-victims.
Legal Provisions of Cyberbullying in India
Information Technology Act, 2000
- Section 67: This section penalizes sending obscene messages through electronic means. If cyberbullying involves obscene messages, this section can be invoked.
- Section 67A: This section deals with sexually explicit acts, and it can be related to cyberbullying if there is any kind of harassment.
Use DigiLawyerAI to draft complaints for online harassment.
Conclusion
Cyberbullying is a serious issue that can cause lasting emotional discomfort. It can negatively impact a person’s mental health, academic or work performance, and even lead to suicidal thoughts.
Thankfully, there are laws to protect victims, but awareness and kindness are just as important. We all have a role to play in making the internet a safer place by standing up against bullying, supporting those affected, and using technology responsibly.
If you or someone you know is being bullied online, don’t stay silent—speak up, report it, and seek help. Together, we can stop cyberbullying. At DigiLawyer, you can use the chatbot to draft legal notices or consult lawyers for assistance in filing a cyberbullying case.


Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter
Stay informed with monthly updates on new laws, landmark court judgments, scam alerts, safety tips, and the latest legal news.