A district court has sentenced a resident in a Noida housing society WhatsApp defamation case to eight months of good conduct, imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 and ordered him to furnish a Rs 25,000 bail bond along with bonds from two sureties for the same amount, according to a report by Navbharat Times – Noida.
The case relates to the Antarisksh Canball Three G Society in Sector 77, Noida. The report said resident Virendra Singh was preparing for a society election when another resident, Rajesh Bajaj, posted allegedly insulting messages about him in a WhatsApp group used by residents.
Singh approached the police but, according to the report, did not receive a resolution. He subsequently filed a complaint before the district court through his lawyer, Prince Tiger. The court acquitted Bajaj of the allegation that he had issued a death threat, but found him guilty of damaging Singh’s reputation through the messages posted in the society group.
The sentence requires Bajaj to maintain good conduct for the next eight months. During this period, he must appear before the court whenever summoned. The report said that failure to comply with the court’s directions could result in him being sent to jail.
The court also imposed a financial penalty of Rs 10,000. In addition, the accused must submit a bail bond of Rs 25,000 and bonds from two sureties, each for the same amount. These conditions form part of the order reported in the case.
The matter highlights how resident WhatsApp groups have become an important communication channel within large housing societies, where election campaigns, maintenance disputes and association decisions are often discussed. Messages posted in such groups can reach a substantial number of residents and remain available for reference, making them relevant to disputes over reputation and personal conduct.
In this case, the court treated the alleged reputational harm separately from the allegation of a death threat. The report does not state that Bajaj was convicted on the threat allegation; it says he was acquitted of that charge and found guilty in relation to the messages that allegedly damaged Singh’s reputation.
The sentence also places continuing obligations on the accused rather than ending with only a one-time monetary penalty. Court appearances during the eight-month period, compliance with the bond conditions and the requirement to maintain good conduct are central parts of the order described in the report.
The next step is the implementation of these conditions, including the submission of the required bonds and compliance with any future summons issued by the court. The report did not provide further details about the specific messages or identify the legal provisions applied in the order.
