Online bullying can be as mentally traumatic as physical violence: HC

NEW DELHI: Cyberbullying can be as mentally traumatic and scarring as physical violence, the Delhi High Court has said, while upholding the conviction of a man who sent morphed nude images and threatening messages to a minor girl studying in Class 9.

- Shruti Kakkar

The court rejected his appeal against a five-year sentence, describing the case as a “textbook example of cyberbullying.”

The judgment, delivered on July 28 by Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma, stressed the devastating psychological impact of online harassment, particularly on children.

“What is deeply concerning is the use of technology to commit cyberbullying ~an act that, while faceless and silent, can be as mentally traumatic and scarring as physical violence, especially when directed towards children. Such conduct, in the virtual

Such conduct, in the virtual world, has very real and devastating consequences in the real world

world, has very real and devastating consequences in the real world,” justice Sharma said.