Section66D
The Information Technology Act, 2000

Punishment for cheating by personation by using computer resource

In force From 17 Oct 2000 Act 21 of 2000 As on 14 Oct 2026

Act 21 of 2000 Ministry Electronics and Information Technology Enacted 09 Jun 2000 In force 17 Oct 2000

Section 66D of the Information Technology Act, 2000 deals with punishment for cheating by personation by using computer resource. Whoever, by means of any communication device or computer resource cheats by personation, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years and shall also be liable to fine which may extend to one lakh rupees. The Act came into force on 17 Oct 2000.

Whoever, by means of any communication device or computer resource cheats by personation, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years and shall also be liable to fine which may extend to one lakh rupees.

Section 66D, The Information Technology Act, 2000 (Act 21 of 2000).

Related judgements & precedents

These are some judgments that construed this section, and hold precedence value. They hold authority on how to read, interpret and use this section.

  1. Dipakkumar Sureshbhai Ramani v. State of Gujarat

    High Court 24 Jul 2019 Binding (High Court) Reportable Crl.M.A. 13568/2017 (Guj HC)

    Court's Decision & Legal Precedent

    Final Order order-3.pdf 2019-07-24 DATE VERIFIED. A.S. Supehia. Crl MA 13568/2017. Extracts IT 66D: cheating by personation using a computer resource. Creating a fake Facebook ID in the complainant's name and communicating through it is a prima facie 66D offence; 66A portion of the FIR is quashed following Shreya Singhal. Map it-act 66D only. Do not pad 66A (already filled).

    On this section: Creating a fake Facebook ID in another person's name and communicating through it is cheating by personation using a computer resource under IT 66D (Dipakkumar Ramani).

    Read the full order on eCourts India

  2. Akshat Singh Rajput vs State of Jharkhand

    District and Sessions Establishment, Jamshedpur 09 Jun 2025 Persuasive (Other Courts)

    Court's Decision & Legal Precedent

    Bail may be granted where the majority of alleged offenses are bailable and the period of detention is sufficient relative to the nature of the remaining non-bailable charge and the evidentiary context of a prior relationship.

    On this section: Applied regarding the creation of fake IDs and violation of privacy.

    Read the full order on eCourts India

  3. Kalimera Narsing Rao vs The State of Telangana

    High Court 21 Jul 2022 Persuasive (Other High Court)

    Court's Decision & Legal Precedent

    When a vehicle is seized in a criminal investigation and deposited before a competent court, the proper remedy for release is to file an application under Section 451 Cr.P.C. before that court, not to approach the High Court through a writ petition. The High Court will not exercise its extraordinary jurisdiction under Article 226 when adequate remedies exist in the lower courts.

    On this section: Cybercrime offence alleged in the underlying criminal case

    Read the full order on eCourts India

The holding above is the ratio decidendi as extracted from the judgment by eCourts India, reproduced unaltered — it is a rendering of the court's reasoning, not a substitute for its words. Read the order itself before relying on it.

Questions about Section 66D

What have the courts held on Section 66D of the Information Technology Act?

Dipakkumar Sureshbhai Ramani v. State of Gujarat (24 Jul 2019) is the leading judgment on this section among those set out below: Creating a fake Facebook ID in another person's name and communicating through it is cheating by personation using a computer resource under IT 66D (Dipakkumar Ramani). Another 2 judgments on this section are set out below. They run from 2019 to 2025.

How do I find court cases under Section 66D of the Information Technology Act?

In judgments and charge sheets this section is written several ways, and each form finds a different set of orders. These search the full text of every order eCourtsIndia holds, best matches first: IT Act 66D, section 66D IT Act, section 66D of the Information Technology Act. People searching for it also type it act 66d punishment and it act 66d bailable or non bailable. Each opens the full list of orders on eCourtsIndia, where it can be narrowed by court, year and outcome. 3 reported judgments on this section are set out on this page, beginning with Dipakkumar Sureshbhai Ramani v. State of Gujarat (24 Jul 2019).

When did Section 66D of the Information Technology Act come into force?

Section 66D of the Information Technology Act, commonly called cheating by personation, and cited as IT Act 66D, came into force on 17 Oct 2000, having been enacted on 09 Jun 2000. It is in force as at the date shown on this page.

Other sections of this Act

Source and method. Compiled from the enactments of Parliament and of the State legislatures as published on India Code, and republished together with commentary and other original matter under section 52(1)(q)(ii) of the Copyright Act, 1957. Structured, cross-referenced and maintained by eCourtsIndia. Text as in force on 14 Oct 2026. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.