Section 201 · Causing disappearance of evidence of offence, or giving false information, to screen offender
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Whoever, knowing or having reason to believe that an offence has been committed, causes
any evidence of the commission of that offence to disappear, with the intention of screening the offender
from legal punishment, or with that intention gives any information respecting the offence which he
knows or believes to be false,
if a capital offence.—shall, if the offence which he knows or believes to have been committed is punishable with death be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine;
if punishable with imprisonment for life.—and if the offence is punishable with 1 [imprisonment for life], or with imprisonment which may extend to ten years, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, and shall also be liable to fine;
if punishable with less than ten years imprisonment.—and if the offence is punishable with imprisonment for any term not extending to ten years, shall be punished with imprisonment of the description provided for the offence, for a term which may extend to one-fourth part of the longest term of the imprisonment provided for the offence, or with fine, or with both.
Illustration
A, knowing that B has murdered Z, assists B to hide the body with the intention of screening B from punishment. A is liable to imprisonment of either description for seven years, and also to fine.
if a capital offence.—shall, if the offence which he knows or believes to have been committed is punishable with death be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine;
if punishable with imprisonment for life.—and if the offence is punishable with 1 [imprisonment for life], or with imprisonment which may extend to ten years, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, and shall also be liable to fine;
if punishable with less than ten years imprisonment.—and if the offence is punishable with imprisonment for any term not extending to ten years, shall be punished with imprisonment of the description provided for the offence, for a term which may extend to one-fourth part of the longest term of the imprisonment provided for the offence, or with fine, or with both.
Illustration
A, knowing that B has murdered Z, assists B to hide the body with the intention of screening B from punishment. A is liable to imprisonment of either description for seven years, and also to fine.
The offence at a glance
- Punishment
- Death, Imprisonment for life, up to 10 years, fine (no stated ceiling)
- Cognizable
- Cognizable
- Bailable
- Non-bailable
- Compoundable
- Not compoundable
- Triable by
- Magistrate of the first class
- Cognizable — Police may arrest without a warrant
- Non-bailable — Bail is at the court's discretion
Sub-sections of this section carry different penalties; the maximum is shown.
Derived from the First Schedule Part II rule — not listed section by section
In the new law
IPC 201BNS 238
238. Causing disappearance of evidence of offence, or giving false information to screen offender.
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How this section has changed
The law that applies is the law as it stood on the date of the offence — which is why this timeline matters.
- 1955SubstitutedIn force from:
By: Act 26 of 1955, sec. 117 and Sch
With effect from 1-1-1956.
The text this replaced
transportation for life
The text in force on the date of the offence is the text that applies — a later amendment does not reach back.