Legal Accountability in Educational Consultant Groups
Issued in public interest by DREAM MBBS STUDY ABROAD LLP for all B2B education-focused digital communities on WhatsApp, Telegram, and other platforms.
📌 Who Is Responsible?
The Group Admin is the legal custodian of the group.
Under Indian cyber and criminal laws, including the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, and the Information Technology Act, 2000, any activity that violates legal, ethical, or professional conduct makes the ADMIN LIABLE.
Admins may be summoned, arrested, or punished if:
- Fraudulent deals are promoted or allowed
- Hate speech or communal content is shared
- Fake admissions, promises, or certificates are marketed
- Unverified members are allowed to mislead others
- Misinformation is not removed or flagged
⚖️ Relevant Laws (Updated to 2023)
- BNS Section 78 – Promoting enmity between groups (replaces IPC 153A)
- BNS Section 356 – Cheating and fraud (replaces IPC 420)
- BNS Section 69 – Defamation (replaces IPC 500)
- BNS Section 268 – Public mischief and rumor-mongering
- BNS Section 78 – Intentional insult to the modesty of a woman (replaces IPC 509)
- IT Act Section 66D – Impersonation and fraudulent digital activity
Even if the admin does not post content personally, they are still liable if they fail to:
- Remove violators
- Warn others
- Report abuse
📚 Real Group-Based Case Histories
1. B2B Education Deals Gone Wrong – Delhi, 2023
An unverified member posed as a direct university agent, collected ₹2.5 lakhs from 3 small consultants, and disappeared.
The group admin was summoned by Delhi Cyber Cell for allowing an unverified source without a disclaimer.
2. Hate Speech in Study Abroad Group – Lucknow, 2024
A debate turned communal. The group admin failed to delete posts and remove users.
FIR was filed, and the admin was booked under BNS Sec 78 & IT Act Sec 67.
Police stated: “Group admins are digital gatekeepers. Silence is complicity.”
3. Fake Offer Letter Scam – Hyderabad, 2022
An individual shared fake admission letters and duped multiple agents.
The admin was questioned for not verifying the sender and for not displaying clear group disclaimers.
📏 Guidelines for Admins (Mandatory for Legal Safety)
- Set group settings to “Only Admins Can Send Messages” (for deals or announcements).
- Display clear rules and disclaimers, such as: “Admin is not liable for third-party deals. Please verify independently.”
- Add only known and verified numbers. Anyone can buy a fake Indian or international number for ₹300–₹400 and misuse it.
- Immediately remove toxic, abusive, or suspicious members. Keep screenshots as proof.
- Blacklist repeat violators across all allied groups.
- Maintain transparency in deals. Avoid backdoor activities.
👥 Responsibility of Members
Members are also legally accountable.
- Do not share unverifiable deals, fake contacts, hate speech, or false claims.
- Members involved in scams, threats, or unethical conduct can be prosecuted under:
- BNS Section 356 – Cheating
- BNS Section 69 – Defamation
- IT Act Section 66D – Cyber fraud
Note: Being “just a member” does not protect you from legal action.
🚨 Final Note of Caution
Admins and members are both responsible for the group’s health and safety.
If any illegal, harmful, or unethical activity happens:
- 🟥 The ADMIN will be the first person questioned
- 🟥 The MEMBER can also be prosecuted
Let’s work together to ensure professional, ethical, and legally safe communities.
✅ Suggested Disclaimer for Admins
“This is a professional group for B2B educational consultancy.
Admin is not responsible for any third-party deals.
All users are expected to follow lawful, ethical conduct.
Fraud, hate, or spamming will result in immediate removal and legal reporting.”
👤 Issued by:
DREAM MBBS STUDY ABROAD LLP
📞 18002020041 | 📱 +91 9835070170 | ☎ 0120-4553603
✉️ support@dreammbbs.in
🌐 www.dreammbbs.in
