A false review that makes a specific false factual claim about your business — not a mere opinion — constitutes defamation under Section 499 IPC. The key distinction is between protected opinion ("I did not enjoy the food") and actionable falsehood ("This restaurant poisoned me").
False Reviews Are Actionable Under Indian Law
When false reviews are posted in a coordinated manner by a competitor, the matter also invites remedies under the Competition Act, 2002 and potential tortious liability for malicious falsehood.
What You Must Document Before Taking Action
Screenshot the review with the timestamp visible. Record the reviewer profile URL. Note the date the review appeared and any pattern — multiple reviews within a short window from newly created accounts is strong evidence of a coordinated campaign.
Document any business impact: cancelled orders, lost contracts, client emails referencing the reviews. This evidence of special damage strengthens both criminal and civil remedies.
Sending Notices to Review Platforms
Google, Justdial, and IndiaMart all have designated grievance officers under the IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021. A formal complaint to the Grievance Officer — not the general help form — triggers a mandatory 72-hour acknowledgement and 15-day resolution obligation.
If the platform fails to act, the non-compliance itself becomes a separate ground for legal action, including the platform losing its safe harbour protection under Section 79.
Criminal vs Civil Remedies
Criminal defamation under Section 499/500 IPC carries imprisonment up to two years. Filing a complaint before the Magistrate compels the accused to appear and respond — powerful leverage even before a conviction.
Civil suits for damages and injunctions are often faster and result in measurable monetary awards. Courts have awarded damages ranging from ₹5 lakh to ₹50 lakh in cases where demonstrable business harm from false reviews was established.
RepuLex Editorial
RepuLex's editorial team comprises senior advocates, legal researchers, and ORM strategists with over a decade of combined experience in online reputation law in India.