Criminal Libel

Criminal libel is a legal offense where falsely accusing someone of a crime or wrongdoing in a way that damages their reputation is considered a crime itself. Unlike civil libel, which involves seeking damages, criminal libel involves criminal prosecution by the state, potentially leading to penalties like fines or imprisonment. The key element is that the false statement is made publicly or to a third party and harms the person's good name. Laws on criminal libel aim to balance freedom of expression with protecting individuals from malicious false accusations.