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Messages keep arriving from an account you blocked last week. Someone seems to know where you were on Saturday. A fake profile with your photo is following your friends. Repeated, these can add up to what Indian law calls stalking, and you can act on them.
What counts as cyberstalking under Indian law?
India's criminal code does not use the word "cyberstalking". Instead, Section 78 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS) defines stalking to include online behaviour.
Repeated contact: under BNS Section 78, a man commits stalking if he "follows a woman and contacts, or attempts to contact such woman to foster personal interaction repeatedly despite a clear indication of disinterest by such woman".
Monitoring: the same section covers a man who "monitors the use by a woman of the internet, e-mail or any other form of electronic communication".
Punishment: a first conviction can mean up to three years in prison and a fine, and a second or later conviction up to five years.
As written, Section 78 covers a man stalking a woman. Other laws cover other cases:
If the person targeted is under 18, Section 11 of the POCSO Act, 2012 treats it as sexual harassment when someone with sexual intent "repeatedly or constantly follows or watches or contacts a child either directly or through electronic, digital or any other means". Section 12 sets up to three years in prison.
Fraudulently or dishonestly using someone's password or other unique identification feature is identity theft under Section 66C of the Information Technology Act, 2000, and cheating by impersonation using a computer resource falls under Section 66D.
Threats are criminal intimidation under BNS Section 351, and sub-section (4) adds up to two more years when the threat is sent anonymously or the sender hides their name or address.
Police and courts decide which sections fit. Your job is to describe what happened and keep the proof.
What are the warning signs of cyberstalking?
Look for patterns rather than single events:
Repeated calls, DMs or comments after you have said no, blocked them or stopped replying.
New accounts that appear soon after you block an old one.
Fake profiles using your name or photos.
Someone knowing where you were when you did not share it, a sign your location or accounts may be tracked.
Logins you don't recognise, or messages "you" sent that you never wrote.
Threats to share photos, chats or personal details unless you reply or meet.
Less public information means less to track: see our list of what children should never share online.
How do you document cyberstalking before reporting it?
Messages get unsent and accounts get deleted, so save everything before you block anyone.
Screenshot every message, profile and comment, with the username, date and time visible.
Copy profile links into a note; display names change easily, links less so.
Don't delete chats, and export them if the app allows it.
Keep a log: date, time, platform, account, what happened, screenshot file name.
Back up the folder somewhere the other person cannot reach.
Then secure your accounts: new passwords, two-step verification, log out other devices, check which apps see your location.
A worked example of one log entry: "12 Oct, 10:42 pm, Instagram, new account using the same photo as the account I blocked on 9 Oct, profile link saved, wrote 'I know you were at the library today', screenshot 014." That tells police far more than "this person keeps messaging me".
Where do you report cyberstalking in India?
On the platform: report harassment or impersonation. This can remove fake accounts, but it is not a police complaint.
Online, to the police: the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal lets the public report cyber crimes "with a special focus on cyber crimes against women and children", according to a Government of India release. The same release says the toll-free number 1930 gives help with lodging online complaints.
In person: take your log to the nearest police station.
If someone turns up where you are, or you feel unsafe, contact the police straight away.
What should you say to a parent or teacher?
Students could say: "Something online is making me uncomfortable. I've saved screenshots. I'm not in trouble, and I don't want my phone taken away. I need help reporting it."
Parents: listen first and don't confiscate the phone; our guide to what to do when a child is bullied online covers next steps. If fake chats or deepfakes are part of it, use this response plan for AI-generated cyberbullying.
What if it is affecting sleep, mood or studies?
Being watched is stressful, and it is not your fault. If worry or poor sleep lingers, call Tele MANAS, the government's toll-free, 24x7 mental health helpline, on 14416 (Ministry of Health release).
If it has knocked your studies off course, Fermi's AI tutor can work out what you already know and build a plan for the session, so getting back to work starts with one clear step.
