How to Remove a Fake News Article
in Kolkata
A legal step-by-step guide for Kolkata residents and businesses. Fake news articles that rank on name searches cause long-term damage. Legal notices to editors personally create urgency that editorial complaints processes do not.
Legal process in Kolkata.
Archive the article: save full URL, page archive, and metadata before the publisher may edit it.
Identify the publisher: determine if they are an Indian registered intermediary or media entity subject to IT Act and Press Council.
Defamation notice to the editor: a notice citing BNS 2023 s.356 (formerly IPC 499/500), addressed to the editor and the publisher, identifies each false statement and asks for removal or correction.
IT Act Section 79 notice: puts the publishing platform on formal notice; if it declines, a court order must be acted on within three hours.
Google Search Console de-indexing: once removed, permanent removal from search results filed through Google's legal team.
Remove Fake News Article in Kolkata: the local legal context
Kolkata falls within the Calcutta High Court, which sits in the city. Kolkata's commercial and professional community — spanning trading businesses, manufacturing, education institutions, and healthcare — increasingly faces online reputation attacks through Bengali-language portals and national platforms.
Bengali-language news portal defamation targeting business owners
Fake reviews on JustDial and Sulekha targeting Kolkata retail and services
Social media campaigns against educational institutions and coaching centres
Kolkata reputation matters frequently involve Bengali-language news portals, regional Twitter/X accounts targeting film and political figures, and Facebook groups operating across the West Bengal diaspora. Cross-border content from Bangladesh-hosted sites is an increasing source of cases.
For Kolkata, a civil suit lies before the competent civil court or Calcutta High Court, which has an original side.
Highest-risk Kolkata industries: Bengali film and entertainment industry professionals (coordinated social media and Bengali YouTube attacks), traditional family businesses (consumer-portal organised review attacks), and political consultants (Bengali-language news-portal defamation).
In Kolkata, fake news article 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 or Calcutta High Court, which has an original side. Across 25+ cities RepuLex maintains a 97% case success rate — permanent removal, not suppression.
Fake news articles that rank on name searches cause long-term damage. Legal notices to editors personally create urgency that editorial complaints processes do not.
How long does it take to remove a fake news article in Kolkata?+
Most cases in Kolkata are resolved within 7–30 days via IT Act 2000 platform notices. Emergency cases are handled on a 24-hour escalation track. RepuLex confirms all removals in writing before closing the case.
Can RepuLex help you remove a fake news article in Kolkata?+
Yes. RepuLex takes on this work for clients across West Bengal and the rest of India; legal notices and court filings are drafted and served by the partner law firm. The IT Act 2000 and the IT Rules 2021 apply to every intermediary offering services in India, wherever the platform is hosted, so a notice for a Kolkata client runs the same way as one sent from anywhere else. Where a court order is needed, the partner law firm files in the competent civil court or Calcutta High Court, which has an original side, and before Calcutta High Court for writ petitions.
What does it cost to remove a fake news article in Kolkata?+
RepuLex charges a fixed one-time fee: ₹99,999 per URL permanently removed. Package pricing: Starter Shield (3 URLs) at ₹2,49,999 and Business Clear (10 URLs) at ₹7,49,999. A free case assessment is provided before any commitment. No monthly retainers. These rates cover standard-complexity removals; news media and court-reported matters are quoted separately from ₹1,00,000 per URL.
Need help? RepuLex handles it for you in Kolkata.
Free assessment · Fixed fee · Calcutta High Court jurisdiction · Written confirmation