Someone's "Abe saale" isn't always a joke. Learn how to use BNS Section 352 and BNSS 173 to report verbal abuse, criminal intimidation, and street harassment in India.
You are walking home after a long day, or maybe you are just minding your business in a Discord server or a WhatsApp group. Someone cuts you off in traffic or disagrees with your take on a match. Suddenly, it starts. "Abe saale, dikhta nahi hai?" or worse, a string of gendered abuses aimed at your family.
In many Indian circles, this is dismissed as "normal" or "just how people talk." You might feel like you have to swallow the insult because "it's just words" and the police won't care. But here is the reality: when words are used to intentionally humiliate you, provoke you into a fight, or make you fear for your safety, they cross the line from "rude" to "criminal." As of 2026, the law is clearer than ever about your right to dignity in public and private spaces. You don't have to just "take it."
Since July 1, 2024, the Indian legal system has transitioned from the old IPC to the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The rules regarding verbal abuse and intimidation are now sharper.
If someone intentionally insults you with the aim of provoking you to break the "public peace" or commit another offence, they are violating Section 352 of the BNS (which replaced the old Section 504 IPC). The law doesn't care if they used a common slang like "saale" or a more hardcore abuse; what matters is their intent to humiliate you or cause a scene. If found guilty, they can face up to two years in prison, a fine, or both.
If the "Abe saale" is followed by a threat like "Baahar mil, batata hoon" (Meet me outside, I'll show you), it shifts to Section 351 of the BNS (formerly Section 506 IPC). Criminal intimidation occurs when someone threatens you with injury to your person, reputation, or property to make you do something you aren't legally bound to do, or to stop you from doing something you have a right to do. If the threat is to cause death or grievous hurt, the punishment can go up to seven years.
If the verbal abuse involves gendered slurs or gestures intended to insult a woman's modesty, it falls under Section 79 of the BNS. This is a serious, cognizable offence, meaning the police can arrest the person without a warrant in many cases.
Under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), which replaced the CrPC, Section 173 mandates that if you report a "cognizable" offence (like a threat of violence or sexual harassment), the police must register an First Information Report (FIR). For "non-cognizable" offences (like a simple insult without a threat), they must record it in the Non-Cognizable Report (NCR) diary under Section 174 BNSS.
For more on the basics of police interaction, see our guide on How to file an FIR (and what to do if police refuse).
Reporting verbal abuse requires a mix of presence of mind and a paper trail. Here is how you handle it.
Words vanish into thin air, so you need proof.
Before you head to the station, decide what you want.
Do not just walk in and start shouting. Write a clear, factual letter addressed to the Station House Officer (SHO) of your local police station. Use this structure:
Go to the station that has jurisdiction over the area where it happened. If you are a woman, you have the right to speak to a female officer.
If the "Abe saale" happened online, don't just block and move on if it’s persistent.
If the police refuse to register your complaint, do not argue.
Verbal abuse can take a toll on your mental health. If you're feeling overwhelmed by the incident or the legal process, check out these Mental health helplines (iCall, Vandrevala, NIMHANS).
For more ways to take charge of your rights, Browse all civic-action guides.
The system isn't always as smooth as the law suggests. Here is where you will likely hit a wall and how to climb over it:
1. The "Chhota Mamla" Brush-off The most common hurdle is a police officer telling you, "Beta, gaali hi toh di hai, ghar jao" (Child, it’s just an abuse, go home). They might try to convince you that filing a report will "ruin the other person's life" or waste your time.
2. The Digital Dead-end If the abuse happened on Instagram or WhatsApp, the local police station might tell you to "go to the Cyber Cell." The Cyber Cell might then tell you they only handle "major financial frauds."
3. The Evidence Trap A screenshot is rarely enough in court. The police might reject your evidence saying it could be morphed.
If the Duty Officer is being dismissive, use this script: "Sir, I am here to report a violation of Section 352 and 351 of the BNS. I have been intentionally insulted and intimidated. I understand this might be a non-cognizable offence, so please record it in the NCR diary as per Section 174 of the BNSS and provide me with a free copy of the entry. I have the evidence and the Section 63 BSA certificate ready."
To, The SHO, [Name of Police Station], [City/District]
Subject: Complaint regarding intentional insult and criminal intimidation under Sections 352 and 351 of the BNS.
Respected Sir/Madam, I, [Your Name], aged [Age], resident of [Your Address], wish to report an incident that occurred on [Date] at [Time] at [Location/Online Platform].
Details of the incident: [Describe what happened clearly. Example: "The accused, [Name/Handle], approached me and used specific abuses (quote them) with the intent to humiliate me. They further threatened me by saying (quote the threat)."]
Evidence: I am enclosing [Screenshots/Audio Recording/Video] along with a certificate under Section 63 of the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA).
Request: I request you to register an NCR/FIR against the accused and take necessary action to ensure my safety.
Sincerely, [Your Name] [Your Phone Number] [Date]
If 15 days pass and you haven't heard back, file an RTI to the Public Information Officer (PIO) of the police district: "Provide the current status of the complaint filed by [Your Name] on [Date] at [Police Station]. Provide a certified copy of the Daily Diary (DD) entry or NCR recorded in relation to this complaint."
1. Can I get arrested for just saying "Abe Saale"? Context is everything. If you say it jokingly to a friend, no. But if you use it to intentionally insult a stranger in a way that could provoke a fight or "break the public peace," it falls under Section 352 BNS. The law focuses on the intent to humiliate or provoke, not just the word itself.
2. What is the difference between an NCR and an FIR? For "minor" crimes like verbal abuse (Section 352), police file an NCR (Non-Cognizable Report). They cannot arrest the person or investigate without a Magistrate's order. For "major" crimes like threats of death or gendered harassment (Section 79 BNS), they file an FIR, which allows immediate investigation and arrest.
3. Does filing a complaint mean I have to go to court for years? Most verbal abuse cases end at the police station. Once the police call the accused for questioning (a "170 BNSS notice"), the person usually apologizes and stops. Very few cases go to a full trial unless there is actual violence involved. However, the record of the NCR stays.
4. What if the person is abusing me from a fake account? Report it on cybercrime.gov.in. The police can request IP logs from platforms like Meta or X to track the device. It takes time, but in cases of serious harassment or threats, they do follow through.
5. Is there a fee for filing a police complaint or getting an FIR copy? No. Under Section 173(2) of the BNSS, you are entitled to a copy of the FIR/NCR absolutely free of cost. If an officer asks for money ("kharcha-paani"), it is illegal.
6. Will this affect my passport or job prospects? Being the complainant (the one reporting) does not affect your background check. If you are the accused, a pending FIR might cause issues during passport verification, but an NCR usually does not show up in standard background checks unless a court has taken cognizance of it.
7. What if the abuser is a minor? If the person is under 18, the BNS still applies, but the procedure changes. The case will be handled by the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB), and the focus will be on reformation rather than jail time. You should still report it if you feel unsafe.
Context is everything. If you say it jokingly to a friend, no. But if you use it to intentionally insult a stranger in a way that could provoke a fight or "break the public peace," it falls under **Section 352 BNS**. The law focuses on the *intent* to humiliate or provoke, not just the word itself.
For "minor" crimes like verbal abuse (Section 352), police file an **NCR (Non-Cognizable Report)**. They cannot arrest the person or investigate without a Magistrate's order. For "major" crimes like threats of death or gendered harassment (Section 79 BNS), they file an **FIR**, which allows immediate investigation and arrest.
Most verbal abuse cases end at the police station. Once the police call the accused for questioning (a "170 BNSS notice"), the person usually apologizes and stops. Very few cases go to a full trial unless there is actual violence involved. However, the record of the NCR stays.
Report it on **cybercrime.gov.in**. The police can request IP logs from platforms like Meta or X to track the device. It takes time, but in cases of serious harassment or threats, they do follow through.
No. Under **Section 173(2) of the BNSS**, you are entitled to a copy of the FIR/NCR absolutely free of cost. If an officer asks for money ("kharcha-paani"), it is illegal.
Being the *complainant* (the one reporting) does not affect your background check. If you are the *accused*, a pending FIR might cause issues during passport verification, but an NCR usually does not show up in standard background checks unless a court has taken cognizance of it.
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