If you have discovered unauthorised access to your accounts, you are likely asking whether you can file a criminal complaint if your email or social media account is hacked, and yes, this is a clear-cut offence under Indian cyber law. You can file a criminal complaint if your email or social media account is hacked under Section 66 of the Information Technology Act, which punishes unauthorised access, data theft, and computer-related offences, along with Section 43 for civil compensation and, where impersonation or misuse of your identity follows, Sections 66C and 66D for identity theft and cheating by personation. Hacking an account without authorisation is treated seriously precisely because of the cascading harm it can cause — from financial fraud to reputational damage through impersonated posts and messages sent in your name.

The first step after discovering a breach is to secure whatever access you still have — change passwords, enable two-factor authentication, and notify the platform immediately to flag the compromise, since this both limits ongoing damage and creates a documented timeline useful for your complaint. You can file a criminal complaint if your email or social media account is hacked at your nearest cybercrime cell, or through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal, and it is important to include all available evidence such as login alerts, unusual activity notifications, IP logs if accessible, and any messages sent from your account without your knowledge.

Because hacking cases often require the platform to disclose technical logs to identify the perpetrator, having a lawyer draft the complaint with the right legal references and platform-specific requests significantly improves the chances of a proper investigation. The team at Aapka Legal Advice regularly assists clients in filing these complaints correctly and following up with the cybercrime cell to ensure the matter is actively pursued rather than left pending.

Given the technical nature of digital evidence in hacking cases, experienced representation matters, and our network of Top Criminal Lawyers in India, supported by insights from our retired judges panel, can help you navigate both the criminal complaint and any resulting civil claims for damages caused by the breach.

In conclusion, you can absolutely file a criminal complaint if your email or social media account is hacked, and acting fast — both to secure your accounts and to file a well-documented complaint — is the most effective way to hold the responsible party accountable.