Yes, a false police complaint can potentially lead to a defamation claim in India, but filing a complaint that is ultimately found to be false does not automatically amount to defamation.
For defamation, the person generally needs to show that the false allegation was communicated to another person and that it harmed their reputation. The circumstances and the complainant's intention can also be important.
However, statements made in the course of legal or judicial proceedings may receive certain protections, so whether a defamation case is maintainable depends heavily on the facts, the nature of the allegations, and where and how they were made.
If a complaint was knowingly false and malicious, the affected person may also have other legal remedies, depending on the circumstances, such as proceedings relating to false information or malicious prosecution.
It is advisable to preserve the complaint/FIR, closure or discharge documents, messages, and other evidence showing that the allegations were false before taking legal action.
