Maharashtra Amends Law: Protects Acid Attack Survivors, Strengthens Cyber Crime Fight

• Maharashtra assembly clears amendment to Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, expanding scope for digital crimes and victim protection.
• Identity of acid attack victims can no longer be disclosed, bringing protections on par with sexual offense cases.
• Law expands harassment definition to include acts via phones, social media, and digital platforms, targeting obscene messages and sexual remarks.
• Image-based abuse, including sharing or threatening to share private photos/videos (real or morphed), is now punishable.
• Doxxing (publishing personal details without consent) and persistent digital stalking are also brought under the law with penalties.