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BNS s.356 · Gurgaon

Defamation Content
Removal in Gurgaon.

Criminal defamation under BNS 2023 s.356 (formerly IPC 499/500) is a personal liability of whoever published the false imputation. In Gurgaon, a notice issued through RepuLex's partner law firm puts the publisher on record, and the person defamed keeps the right to a criminal complaint against the publisher.

The Legal Basis

Section 356(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023 (formerly IPC Section 499) defines criminal defamation as making or publishing any imputation concerning a person intending to harm, or knowing or having reason to believe it will harm, that person's reputation. Section 356(2) (formerly IPC 500) provides for simple imprisonment of up to two years, a fine, both, or community service. In Gurgaon, these provisions apply to online content exactly as they do to print — there is no digital immunity.

Alongside BNS s.356, the IT Act 2000 adds routes for particular content: Section 66E where an image of a person's private area was published without consent, and Section 67 where the content is obscene. RepuLex identifies the strongest applicable legal route for each Gurgaon case.

What Qualifies as Defamation
1.

False statements of fact presented as true — not opinion.

2.

Content that has damaged or is likely to damage reputation.

3.

Published to at least one person other than the subject.

4.

No defence of truth, public interest, or fair comment available.

5.

Identifiable subject — the Gurgaon individual or business is nameable.

Platforms We Target from Gurgaon
Google Search
IT Act + defamation notice
Instagram / Meta
IT Rules 2021 grievance: 2 hours to 7 days
X (Twitter)
IT Rules 2021 grievance: 2 hours to 7 days
YouTube
IT Act notice to Google legal
Haryana News Portals
BNS s.356 notice to editor personally
WhatsApp Groups
IT Rules 2021 grievance to WhatsApp
Consumer Portals
IT Act takedown notice
Civil Court
Injunction if platforms non-compliant
Our Approach in Gurgaon

Through the partner law firm, notices go to the platform and to the content originator simultaneously. The defamation notice tells the individual who published the content that the person defamed can file a criminal complaint, and BNS s.356(2) carries up to two years' simple imprisonment. This dual pressure typically achieves removal faster than platform-only approaches. Where the originator is in Gurgaon or Haryana, direct service of legal notice is possible.

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Questions

Defamation questions from Gurgaon clients.

How do I initiate criminal defamation proceedings in Gurgaon?+

Criminal defamation under BNS 2023 s.356 (formerly IPC 499/500) is initiated by a complaint by the person defamed before a Judicial Magistrate First Class in Gurgaon; an injunction against the content itself is sought in a civil suit in the competent civil court in Gurgaon. RepuLex compiles the evidence bundle while the partner law firm's advocates draft the complaint and the legal notice simultaneously — the legal notice to the content originator often achieves removal before court proceedings are required.

Which court handles online defamation cases in Gurgaon?+

Online defamation cases in Gurgaon run on two tracks: a criminal complaint under BNS s.356 before a Judicial Magistrate of the first class, and civil proceedings for an injunction in the competent civil court in Gurgaon. Punjab & Haryana High Court hears writ petitions such as Right to Be Forgotten petitions, and appeals. The partner law firm's advocates file at whichever level the urgency and the nature of the content require.

Can false online reviews be treated as criminal defamation in Haryana?+

Yes. A false online review that contains specific false statements of fact — not mere opinion — can amount to criminal defamation under BNS 2023 s.356 (formerly IPC 499/500). The fact that it is a "review" rather than an article does not provide immunity. RepuLex assesses each review for actionability, and where the threshold is clearly met the partner law firm issues a legal notice, regardless of which Haryana platform the review appears on.

How quickly can a court grant an injunction against defamatory content in Gurgaon?+

The application is moved in the competent civil court in Gurgaon. Where there is clear evidence of ongoing harm and urgency is shown, a court can grant interim relief at the first hearing. The partner law firm's advocates move urgent injunction applications where the defamatory content is actively causing financial or professional damage.

Can a Gurgaon-based individual sue for defamation against an overseas originator?+

Yes, with limitations. Where the overseas originator has Indian operations, assets, or an accessible online presence targeting Indian audiences, an Indian court can take jurisdiction. RepuLex focuses on platform-level removal in overseas cases — notices to the hosting platform under the IT Rules 2021 and, where needed, a court order — while the partner law firm pursues the originator through the Indian legal channels available. The platform removal is typically faster than the individual proceedings.

The false content about you has legal consequences — for them.

BNS s.356 · Punjab & Haryana High Court jurisdiction · Fixed fee · Confidential

Gurgaon legal context

Defamation Content Removal in Gurgaon: the local legal context

Gurgaon — now officially Gurugram — is home to hundreds of MNC offices, financial services firms, and startup headquarters. Gurgaon falls within the Punjab & Haryana High Court. Gurgaon's corporate ecosystem generates Glassdoor-related ORM cases, alongside executive defamation on LinkedIn and fake news articles targeting companies during high-stakes business events.

Case pattern 1

Glassdoor review attacks targeting Gurgaon MNC offices

Case pattern 2

LinkedIn executive defamation during leadership transitions

Case pattern 3

False news articles targeting startups and PE-backed companies during fundraise

Platform attack vectors

Gurgaon (Gurugram) cases are dominated by Glassdoor and LinkedIn — the city's deep concentration of multinational corporates, BPO operations, and consulting firms makes employer-rating and professional-network platforms primary attack vectors. Twitter-based defamation targeting senior executives is also common.

Courts and forum

Gurgaon falls within the Punjab & Haryana High Court at Chandigarh. The High Court has no original civil side, so a civil suit starts in the competent civil court in Gurgaon.

Industry risk profile

Highest-risk Gurgaon industries: Multinational corporate executives (Glassdoor coordinated employee attacks during restructuring), management consultants (LinkedIn and Twitter competitive-dispute attacks), and real-estate and infrastructure developers (RERA-portal and consumer-forum defamation).

High Court
Punjab & Haryana High Court
State / UT
Haryana
Service
Defamation Content Removal
Legal framework & references

In Gurgaon, defamation content removal rests on the Information Technology Act 2000 (Section 79 read with IT Rules 2021, which set platform deadlines of three hours on a court order, two hours on intimate images or impersonation of a person, and seven days on most other complaints, defamation included), criminal defamation under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023 s.356 (formerly IPC 499/500), and civil injunctions from the competent civil court in Gurgaon. Across 25+ cities RepuLex maintains a 97% case success rate — permanent removal, not suppression.