One of my clients recently had a case which I am explaining below and if you are stuck in such similar situation, here is what to do.
Note: Due to attorney-client privilege, I cannot disclose complete case details or identify the actual parties involved. However, I am sharing the essential facts and legal approach so that if you find yourself in a similar situation, you can understand the available solutions and legal remedies.
TL;DR: Publishing someone's phone number online alongside fake sexual advertisements is a criminal offence in India, not merely a platform problem. You can lodge a complaint on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal or at a police station, and an FIR can be registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Information Technology Act. Do not delete anything, and do not surrender your number to the person doing this.
Key Facts of the Case
- A working professional in Pune found his mobile number repeatedly posted on Telegram with explicit images and fake offers of sexual services.
- The posts were created under different handles but carried the same number, and they kept reappearing over several weeks.
- Strangers called and messaged him at odd hours, sometimes sending the screenshots of the posts back
Facing a similar matter? Speak to a criminal lawyer in Delhi — Advocate Sudhir Rao appears in bail, trial and appellate matters before the Delhi District Courts, the Delhi High Court and the Supreme Court of India.