the publication relates to general allegations regarding certain persons belonging to a class generally, will not be sufficient to attract the definite class of persons so as to file a complaint under the section. Further, the person entitled to file a complaint must be an aggrieved person. That means, the complainant himself must be aggrieved. S.198 of CrPC lays down an exception to the general rule that a complaint can be filed by anybody whether he is an aggrieved person or not and modifies that rule by permitting only an aggrieved person to move a Magistrate in cases of defamation. The Section is mandatory so that if the Magistrate were to take cognizance of an offence of defamation of a complaint filed by one, who is not an aggrieved person, the trial and conviction would be void and illegal. In the case of a class of persons, against whom imputation concerning collection of persons is made, the complaint by an individual member of that collection, is identifiable, definite and determinate in relation to such imputation. So, if an allegation is made against a class of persons, which is identifiable, definite and determinate in relation to imputation, then, a member of that class so affected, is a person aggrieved, entitled to file a complaint under S.499 of IPC with the aid of Explanation 2 of that Section. ” (underline supplied)
