If someone has made false and damaging statements about you in front of others, you may have grounds for a defamation case. This involves proving that defamatory words were spoken about you to a third party, causing harm to your reputation. You can pursue this through a criminal defamation case or a separate civil claim for compensation. It's advisable to start by issuing a legal notice and, if no resolution is reached, consult legal professionals to navigate the process effectively.