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The Indian Penal Code

(45 of 1860)

Contents

Sections Details

Introduction
Preamble

Chapter I Introduction

1 Title and extent of operation of the Code

2 Punishment of offences committed within India
3 Punishment of offences committed beyond but which by law
may be tried within India
4 Extension of Code to extra-territorial offences
5 Certain laws not to be affected by this Act

CHAPTER II GENERAL EXPLANATIONS

6 Definitions in the Code to be understood subject to

exceptions
7 Sense of expression once explained
8 Gender
9 Number
10 "Man", "Woman"
11 "Person"
12 "Public"
13 Repealed
14 "Servant of Government"
15 Repealed
16 Repealed
17 "Government"
18 "India"
19 "Judge"
20 "Court of Justice"
21 "Public Servant"
22 "Movable property"
23 "Wrongful gain"
"Wrongful loss"
Gaining wrongfully, losing wrongfully
24 "Dishonestly"
 25 "Fraudulently"
26 "Reason to believe"
27 "Property in possession of wife, clerk or servant"
28 "Counterfeit"
29 "Document"
30 "Valuable security"
31 "A will"
32 Words referring to acts include illegal omissions
33 "Act", "Omission"
34 Acts done by several persons in furtherance of common
intention
35 When such an act is criminal by reason of its being done with
a criminal knowledge or intention
36 Effect caused partly by act and partly by omission
37 Co-operation by doing one of several acts constituting an
offence
38 Persons concerned in criminal act may be guilty of different
offences
39 "Voluntarily"
40 "Offence"
41 "Special law"
42 "Local law"
43 "Illegal", "Legally bound to do"
44 "Injury"
45 "Life"
46 "Death"
47 "Animal"
48 "Vessel"
49 "Year", "Month"
50 "Section"
51 "Oath"
52 "Good faith"
52A "Harbour"

CHAPTER III OF PUNISHMENTS

53 Punishment
53A Construction of reference to transportation
54 Commutation of sentence of death
55 Commutation of sentence of imprisonment for life
55A Definition of "appropriate Government"
56 Repealed
57 Fractions of terms of punishment
58 Repealed
59 Repealed
 60 Sentence may be (in certain cases of imprisonment) wholly or
partly rigorous or simple
61 Repealed
62 Repealed
63 Amount of fine
64 Sentence of imprisonment for non-payment of fine
65 Limit to imprisonment for non-payment of fine, when
imprisonment and fine awardable
66 Description of imprisonment for non-payment of fine
67 Imprisonment for non-payment of fine, when offence
punishable with fine only
68 Imprisonment to terminate on payment of fine
69 Termination of imprisonment on payment of proportional part
of fine
70 Fine leviable within six years, or during imprisonment—Death
not to discharge property from liability
71 Limit of punishment of offence made up of several offences
72 Punishment of person guilty of one of several offences, the
judgment stating that it is doubtful of which
73 Solitary confinement
74 Limit of solitary confinement
75 Enhanced punishment for certain offences under Chapter XII
or Chapter XVII after previous conviction

CHAPTER IV GENERAL EXCEPTIONS

76 Act done by a person bound, or by mistake of fact believing

himself bound, by law
77 Act of Judge when acting judicially
78 Act done pursuant to the judgment or order of Court
79 Act done by a person justified, or by mistake of fact believing
himself justified, by law
80 Accident in doing a lawful act
81 Act likely to cause harm, but done without criminal intent, and
to prevent other harm
82 Act of a child under seven years of age
83 Act of a child above seven and under twelve of immature
understanding
84 Act of a person of unsound mind
85 Act of a person incapable of judgment by reason of
intoxication caused against his will
86 Offence requiring a particular intent or knowledge committed
by one who is intoxicated
87 Act not intended and not known to be likely to cause death or
grievous hurt, done by consent
 88 Act not intended to cause death, done by consent in good
faith for person’s benefit
89 Act done in good faith for benefit of child or insane person,
by or by consent of guardian
Provisos
90 Consent known to be given under fear or misconception
Consent of insane person
Consent of child
91 Exclusion of acts which are offences independently of harm
caused
92 Act done in good faith for benefit of a person without consent
Provisos
93 Communication made in good faith
94 Act to which a person is compelled by threats
95 Act causing slight harm

Of the Right of Private Defence

96 Things done in private defence

97 Right of private defence of the body and of property
98 Right of private defence against the act of a person of
unsound mind, etc
99 Acts against which there is no right of private defence
Extent to which the right may be exercised
100 When the right of private defence of the body extends to
causing death
101 When such right extends to causing any harm other than
death
102 Commencement and continuance of the right of private
defence of the body
103 When the right of private defence of property extends to
causing death
104 When such right extends to causing any harm other than
death
105 Commencement and continuance of the right of private
defence of property
106 Right of private defence against deadly assault when there is
risk of harm to innocent person

CHAPTER V OF ABETMENT

107 Abetment of a thing

108 Abettor
108A Abetment in India of offences outside India
109 Punishment of abetment if the act abetted is committed in
 consequence, and where no express provision is made for its
punishment
110 Punishment of abetment if person abetted does act with
different intention from that of abettor
111 Liability of abettor when one act abetted and different act
done
Proviso
112 Abettor when liable to cumulative punishment for act abetted
and for act done
113 Liability of abettor for an effect caused by the act abetted
different from that intended by the abettor
114 Abettor present when offence is committed
115 Abetment of offence punishable with death or imprisonment
for life—if offence not committed
If act causing harm be done in consequence
116 Abetment of offence punishable with imprisonment—if
offence be not committed
If abettor or person abetted be a public servant whose duty it
is to prevent offence
117 Abetting commission of offence by the public or by more than
ten persons
118 Concealing design to commit offence punishable with death
or imprisonment for life
If offence be committed—if offence be not committed
119 Public servant concealing design to commit offence which it is
his duty to prevent
If offence be committed
If offence be punishable with death, etc
If offence be not committed
120 Concealing design to commit offence punishable with
imprisonment If offence be committed—if offence be not
committed

CHAPTER VA CRIMINAL CONSPIRACY

120A Definition of criminal conspiracy

120B Punishment of criminal conspiracy

CHAPTER VI OF OFFENCES AGAINST THE STATE

121 Waging, or attempting to wage war, or abetting waging of

war, against the Government of India
121A Conspiracy to commit offences punishable by section 121
122 Collecting arms, etc, with intention of waging war against the
Government of India
 123 Concealing with intent to facilitate design to wage war
124 Assaulting President, Governor, etc, with intent to compel or
restrain the exercise of any lawful power
124A Sedition
125 Waging war against any Asiatic Power in alliance with the
Government of India
126 Committing depredation on territories of Power at peace with
the Government of India
127 Receiving property taken by war on depredation mentioned in
sections 125 and 126
128 Public servant voluntarily allowing prisoner of State or war to
escape
129 Public servant negligently suffering such prisoner to escape
130 Aiding escape of, rescuing or harbouring such prisoner

CHAPTER VII OF OFFENCES RELATING TO THE ARMY, NAVY AND

AIR FORCE

131 Abetting mutiny, or attempting to seduce a soldier, sailor or

airman from his duty
132 Abetment of mutiny, if mutiny is committed in consequence
thereof
133 Abetment of assault by soldier, sailor or airman on his
superior officer, when in execution of his office
134 Abetment of such assault, if the assault is committed
135 Abetment of desertion of soldier, sailor or airman
136 Harbouring deserter
137 Deserter concealed on board merchant vessel through
negligence of master
138 Abetment of act of insubordination by soldier, sailor or airman
138A Repealed
139 Persons subject to certain Acts
140 Wearing garb or carrying token used by soldier, sailor or
airman

CHAPTER VIII OF OFFENCES AGAINST THE PUBLIC TRANQUILLITY

141 Unlawful assembly

142 Being member of unlawful assembly
143 Punishment
144 Joining unlawful assembly armed with deadly weapon
145 Joining or continuing in unlawful assembly, knowing it has
been commanded to disperse
146 Rioting
147 Punishment for rioting
 148 Rioting, armed with deadly weapon
149 Every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence
committed in prosecution of common object
150 Hiring, or conniving at hiring, of persons to join unlawful
assembly
151 Knowingly joining or continuing in assembly of five or more
persons after it has been commanded to disperse
152 Assaulting or obstructing public servant when suppressing
riot, etc
153 Want only giving provocation with intent to cause riot - if
rioting be committed - if not committed
153A Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of
religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc and
doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony
Offence committed in place of worship, etc
153B Imputations, assertions prejudicial to national-integration
154 Owner or occupier of land on which an unlawful assembly is
held
155 Liability of person for whose benefit riot is committed
156 Liability of agent of owner or occupier for whose benefit riot is
committed
157 Harbouring persons hired for an unlawful assembly
158 Being hired to take part in an unlawful assembly or riot Or to
go armed
159 Affray
160 Punishment for committing affray

CHAPTER IX OF OFFENCES BY OR RELATING TO PUBLIC SERVANTS

161 to 165A Repealed

166 Public servant disobeying law, with intent to cause injury to
any person
167 Public servant framing an incorrect document with intent to
cause injury
168 Public servant unlawfully engaging in trade
169 Public servant unlawfully buying or bidding for property
170 Personating a public servant
171 Wearing garb or carrying token used by public servant with
fraudulent intent

CHAPTER IXA OF OFFENCES RELATING TO ELECTIONS

171A "Candidate", "Electoral right" defined

171B Bribery
171C Undue influence at elections
 171D Personation at elections
171E Punishment for bribery
171F Punishment for undue influence or personation at an election
171G False statement in connection with an election
171H Illegal payments in connection with an election
171I Failure to keep election accounts

CHAPTER X OF CONTEMPTS OF THE LAWFUL AUTHORITY OF

PUBLIC SERVANTS

172 Absconding to avoid service of summons or other proceeding

173 Preventing service of summons or other proceeding, or
preventing publication thereof
174 Non-attendance in obedience to an order from public servant
175 Omission to produce document to public servant by person
legally bound to produce it
176 Omission to give notice or information to public servant by
person legally bound to give it
177 Furnishing false information
178 Refusing oath or affirmation when duly required by public
servant to make it
179 Refusing to answer public servant authorised to question
180 Refusing to sign statement
181 False statement on oath or affirmation to public servant or
person authorized to administer an oath or affirmation
182 False information, with intent to cause public servant to use
his lawful power to the injury of another person
183 Resistance to the taking of property by the lawful authority of
a public servant
184 Obstructing sale of property offered for sale by authority of
public servant
185 Illegal purchase or bid for property offered for sale by
authority of public servant
186 Obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions
187 Omission to assist public servant when bound by law to give
assistance
188 Disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant
189 Threat of injury to public servant
190 Threat of injury to induce person to refrain from applying for
protection to public servant

CHAPTER XI Of False evidence and offences against public justice

191 Giving false evidence

192 Fabricating false evidence
193 Punishment for false evidence
194 Giving or fabricating false evidence with intent to procure
conviction of capital offence
If innocent person be thereby convicted and executed
195 Giving or fabricating false evidence with intent to procure
conviction of offence punishable with imprisonment for life or
imprisonment
196 Using evidence known to be false
197 Issuing or signing false certificate
198 Using as true a certificate known to be false
199 False statement made in declaration which is by law
receivable as evidence
200 Using as true such declaration knowing it to be false
201 Causing disappearance of evidence of offence, or giving false
information to screen offender
if a capital offence
if punishable with imprisonment for life
if punishable with less than ten years’ imprisonment
202 Intentional omission to give information of offence by person
bound to inform
203 Giving false information respecting an offence committed
204 Destruction of document to prevent its production as evidence
205 False personation for purpose of act or proceeding in suit or
prosecution
206 Fraudulent removal or concealment of property to prevent its
seizure as forfeited or in execution
207 Fraudulent claim to property to prevent its seizure as forfeited
or in execution
208 Fraudulently suffering decree for sum not due
209 Dishonestly making false claim in Court
210 Fraudulently obtaining decree for sum not due
211 False charge of offence made with intent to injure
212 Harbouring offender
if a capital offence
if punishable with imprisonment for life, or with imprisonment
213 Taking gift, etc, to screen an offender from punishment
if a capital offence
if punishable with imprisonment for life, or with imprisonment
214 Offering gift or restoration of property in consideration of
screening offender
if a capital offence
if punishable with imprisonment for life, or with imprisonment
215 Taking gift to help to recover stolen property, etc
216 Harbouring offender who has escaped from custody or whose
apprehension has been ordered
 if a capital offence
if punishable with imprisonment for life, or with imprisonment
216A Penalty for harbouring robbers or dacoits
216B Repealed
217 Public servant disobeying direction of law with intent to save
person from punishment or property from forfeiture
218 Public servant framing incorrect record or writing with intent to
save person from punishment or property from forfeiture
219 Public servant in judicial proceeding corruptly making report,
etc, contrary to law
220 Commitment for trial or confinement by person having
authority who knows that he is acting contrary to law
221 Intentional omission to apprehend on the part of public
servant bound to apprehend
222 Intentional omission to apprehend on the part of public
servant bound to apprehend person under sentence or
lawfully committed
223 Escape from confinement or custody negligently suffered by
public servant
224 Resistance or obstruction by a person to his lawful
apprehension
225 Resistance or obstruction to lawful apprehension of another
person
225A Omission to apprehend, or sufferance of escape, on part of
public servant, in cases not otherwise provided for
225B Resistance or obstruction to lawful apprehension, or escape
or rescue in cases not otherwise provided for
226 Repealed
227 Violation of condition of remission of punishment
228 Intentional insult or interruption to public servant sitting in
judicial proceeding
228A Disclosure of identity of the victim of certain offences etc
229 Personation of a juror or assessor

CHAPTER XII OF OFFENCES RELATING TO COIN AND GOVERNMENT

STAMPS

230 "Coin" defined Indian coin

231 Counterfeiting coin
232 Counterfeiting Indian coin
233 Making or selling instrument for counterfeiting coin
234 Making or selling instrument for counterfeiting Indian coin
235 Possession of instrument or material for the purpose of using
the same for counterfeiting coin if Indian coin
236 Abetting in India the counterfeiting out of India of coin
237 Import or export of counterfeit coin
238 Import or export of counterfeits of the Indian coin
239 Delivery of coin, possessed with knowledge that it is
counterfeit
240 Delivery of Indian coin, possessed with knowledge that it is
counterfeit
241 Delivery of coin as genuine, which, when first possessed, the
deliverer did not know to be counterfeit
242 Possession of counterfeit coin by person who knew it to be
counterfeit when he became possessed thereof
243 Possession of Indian coin by person who knew it to be
counterfeit when he became possessed thereof
244 Person employed in mint causing coin to be of different
weight or composition from that fixed by law
245 Unlawfully taking coining instrument from mint
246 Fraudulently or dishonestly diminishing weight or altering
composition of coin
247 Fraudulently or dishonestly diminishing weight or altering
composition of Indian coin
248 Altering appearance of coin with intent that it shall pass as
coin of different description
249 Altering appearance of Indian coin with intent that it shall pass
as coin of different description
250 Delivery of coin, possessed with knowledge that it is altered
251 Delivery of Indian coin, possessed with knowledge that it is
altered
252 Possession of coin by person who knew it to be altered when
he became possessed thereof
253 Possession of Indian coin by person who knew it to be altered
when he became possessed thereof
254 Delivery of coin as genuine, which, when first possessed, the
deliverer did not know to be altered
255 Counterfeiting Government stamp
256 Having possession of instrument or material for counterfeiting
Government stamp
257 Making or selling instrument for counterfeiting Government
stamp
258 Sale of counterfeit Government stamp
259 Having possession of counterfeit Government stamp
260 Using as genuine a Government stamp known to be a
counterfeit
261 Effacing writing from substance bearing Government stamp,
or removing from document a stamp used for it, with intent to
cause loss to Government
262 Using Government stamp known to have been before used
263 Erasure of mark denoting that stamp has been used
 263A Prohibition of fictitious stamps

CHAPTER XIII OF OFFENCES RELATING TO WEIGHTS AND

MEASURES

264 Fraudulent use of false instrument for weighing

265 Fraudulent use of false weight or measure
266 Being in possession of false weight or measure
267 Making or selling false weight or measure

CHAPTER XIV OF OFFENCES AFFECTING THE PUBLIC HEALTH,

SAFETY, CONVENIENCE, DECENCY AND MORALS

268 Public nuisance

269 Negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous
to life
270 Malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous
to life
271 Disobedience to quarantine rule
272 Adulteration of food or drink intended for sale
273 Sale of noxious food or drink
274 Adulteration of drugs
275 Sale of adulterated drugs
276 Sale of drug as a different drug or preparation
277 Fouling water of public spring or reservoir
278 Making atmosphere noxious to health
279 Rash driving or riding on a public way
280 Rash navigation of vessel
281 Exhibition of false light, mark or buoy
282 Conveying person by water for hire in unsafe or overloaded
vessel
283 Danger or obstruction in public way or line of navigation
284 Negligent conduct with respect to poisonous substance
285 Negligent conduct with respect to fire or combustible matter
286 Negligent conduct with respect to explosive substance
287 Negligent conduct with respect to machinery
288 Negligent conduct with respect to pulling down or repairing
buildings
289 Negligent conduct with respect to animal
290 Punishment for public nuisance in cases not otherwise
provided for
291 Continuance of nuisance after injunction to discontinue
292 Sale, etc, of obscene books, etc
292A Printing, etc, of grossly indecent or securrilous matter or
matter intended for blackmail
 293 Sale, etc of obscene objects to young person
294 Obscene acts and songs
294A Keeping lottery-office

CHAPTER XV OF OFFENCES RELATING TO RELIGION

295 Injuring or defiling place of worship with intent to insult the

religion of any class
295A Deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious
feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs
296 Disturbing religious assembly
297 Trespassing on burial places, etc
298 Uttering, words, etc, with deliberate intent to wound the
religious feelings of any person

CHAPTER XVI OF OFFENCES AFFECTING THE HUMAN BODY

Of Offences affecting Life

299 Culpable homicide

300 Murder When culpable homicide is not murder
301 Culpable homicide by causing death of person other than
person whose death was intended
302 Punishment for murder
303 Punishment for murder by life-convict
304 Punishment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder
304A Causing death by negligence
304B Dowry death
305 Abetment of suicide of child or insane person
306 Abetment of suicide
307 Attempt to murder Attempts by life convicts
308 Attempt to commit culpable homicide
309 Attempt to commit suicide
310 Thug
311 Punishment

Of the Causing of Miscarriage, of Injuries to Unborn

Children, of the Exposure of Infants, and of the
Concealment of Births

312 Causing miscarriage

313 Causing miscarriage without woman’s consent
314 Death caused by act done with intent to cause miscarriage
If act done without woman’s consent
315 Act done with intent to prevent child being born alive or to
 cause it to die after birth
316 Causing death of quick unborn child by act amounting to
culpable homicide
317 Exposure and abandonment of child under twelve years, by
parent or person having care of it
318 Concealment of birth by secret disposal of dead body

Of Hurt

319 Hurt
320 Grievous hurt
321 Voluntarily causing hurt
322 Voluntarily causing grievous hurt
323 Punishment for voluntarily causing hurt
324 Voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means
325 Punishment for voluntarily causing grievous hurt
326 Voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or
means
327 Voluntarily causing hurt to extort property, or to constrain to
an illegal act
328 Causing hurt by means of poison, etc with intent to commit an
offence
329 Voluntarily causing grievous hurt to extort property, or to
constrain to an illegal act
330 Voluntarily causing hurt to extort confession, or to compel
restoration of property
331 Voluntarily causing grievous hurt to extort confession, or to
compel restoration of property
332 Voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty
333 Voluntarily causing grievous hurt to deter public servant from
his duty
334 Voluntarily causing hurt on provocation
335 Voluntarily causing grievous hurt on provocation
336 Act endangering life or personal safety of others
337 Causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of
others
338 Causing grievous hurt by act endangering life or personal
safety of others

Of Wrongful Restraint and Wrongful Confinement

339 Wrongful restraint

340 Wrongful confinement
341 Punishment for wrongful restraint
342 Punishment for wrongful confinement
343 Wrongful confinement for three or more days
344 Wrongful confinement for ten or more days
345 Wrongful confinement of person for whose liberation writ has
been issued
346 Wrongful confinement in secret
347 Wrongful confinement to extort property, or constrain to illegal
act
348 Wrongful confinement to extort confession, or compel
restoration of property

Of Criminal Force and Assault

349 Force
350 Criminal force
351 Assault
352 Punishment for assault or criminal force otherwise than on
grave provocation
353 Assault or criminal force to deter public servant from
discharge of his duty
354 Assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her
modesty
355 Assault or criminal force with intent to dishonour person,
otherwise than on grave provocation
356 Assault or criminal force in attempt to commit theft of property
carried by a person
357 Assault or criminal force in attempt wrongfully to confine a
person
358 Assault or criminal force on grave provocation

Of Kidnapping, Abduction, Slavery and Forced Labour

359 Kidnapping
360 Kidnapping from India
361 Kidnapping from lawful guardianship
362 Abduction
363 Punishment for kidnapping
363A Kidnapping or maiming a minor for purposes of begging
364 Kidnapping or abducting in order to murder
364A Kidnapping for ransom, etc
365 Kidnapping or abducting with intent secretly and wrongfully to
confine person
366 Kidnapping, abducting or inducing woman to compel her
marriage, etc
366A Procuration of minor girl
366B Importation of girl from foreign country
 367 Kidnapping or abducting in order to subject person to
grievous hurt, slavery, etc
368 Wrongfully concealing or keeping in confinement, kidnapped
or abducted person
369 Kidnapping or abducting child under ten years with intent to
steal from its person
370 Buying or disposing of any person as a slave
371 Habitual dealing in slaves
372 Selling minor for purposes of prostitution, etc
373 Buying minor for purposes of prostitution, etc
374 Unlawful compulsory labour

Sexual Offences

375 Rape
376 Punishment for rape
376A Intercourse by a man with his wife during separation
376B Intercourse by public servant with woman in his custody
376C Intercourse by superintendent of jail, remand home, etc
376D Intercourse by any member of the management or staff of a
hospital with any woman in that hospital

Of Unnatural Offences

377 Unnatural offences

CHAPTER XVII OF OFFENCES AGAINST PROPERTY

Of Theft

378 Theft
379 Punishment for theft
380 Theft in dwelling house, etc
381 Theft by clerk or servant of property in possession of master
382 Theft after preparation made for causing death, hurt or
restraint in order to the committing of the theft

Of Extortion

383 Extortion
384 Punishment for extortion
385 Putting person in fear of injury in order to commit extortion
386 Extortion by putting a person in fear of death or grievous hurt
to
387 Putting person in fear of death or of grievous hurt, in order to
 commit extortion
388 Extortion by threat of accusation of an offence punishable
with death or imprisonment for life, etc
389 Putting person in fear of accusation of offence, in order to
commit extortion

Of Robbery and Dacoity

390 Robbery
When theft is robbery
When extortion is robbery
391 Dacoity
392 Punishment for robbery
393 Attempt to commit robbery
394 Voluntarily causing hurt in committing robbery
395 Punishment for dacoity
396 Dacoity with murder
397 Robbery, or dacoity, with attempt to cause death or grievous
hurt
398 Attempt to commit robbery or dacoity when armed with deadly
weapon
399 Making preparation to commit dacoity
400 Punishment for belonging to gang of dacoits
401 Punishment for belonging to gang of thieves
402 Assembling for purpose of committing dacoity

Of Criminal Misappropriation of Property

403 Dishonest misappropriation of property

404 Dishonest misappropriation of property possessed by
deceased person at the time of his death

Of Criminal Breach of Trust

405 Criminal breach of trust

406 Punishment for criminal breach of trust
407 Criminal breach of trust by carrier, etc
408 Criminal breach of trust by clerk or servant
409 Criminal breach of trust by public servant, or by banker,
merchant or agent

Of the Receiving of Stolen Property

410 Stolen Property

411 Dishonestly receiving stolen property
412 Dishonestly receiving property stolen in the commission of a
dacoity
413 Habitually dealing in stolen property
414 Assisting in concealment of stolen property

Of Cheating

415 Cheating
416 Cheating by personation
417 Punishment for cheating
418 Cheating with knowledge that wrongful loss may ensue to
person whose interest offender is bound to protect
419 Punishment for cheating by personation
420 Cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property

Of Fraudulent Deeds and Disposition of Property

421 Dishonest or fraudulent removal or concealment of property

to prevent distribution among creditors
422 Dishonestly or fraudulently preventing debt being available for
creditors
423 Dishonest or fraudulent execution of deed of transfer
containing false statement of consideration
424 Dishonest or fraudulent removal or concealment of property

Of Mischief

425 Mischief
426 Punishment for mischief
427 Mischief causing damage to the amount of fifty rupees
428 Mischief by killing or maiming animal of the value of ten
rupees
429 Mischief by killing or maiming cattle, etc, of any value or any
animal of the value of fifty rupees
430 Mischief by injury to works of irrigation or by wrongfully
diverting water
431 Mischief by injury to public road, bridge, river or channel
432 Mischief by causing inundation or obstruction to public
drainage attended with damage
433 Mischief by destroying, moving or rendering less useful a
light-house or sea-mark
434 Mischief by destroying or moving, etc, a land-mark fixed by
public authority
435 Mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to cause
damage to amount of one hundred or (in case of agricultural
 produce) ten rupees
436 Mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to destroy
house, etc
437 Mischief with intent to destroy or make unsafe a decked
vessel or one of twenty tons burden
438 Punishment for the mischief described in section 437
committed by fire or explosive substance
439 Punishment for intentionally running vessel agground or
ashore with intent to commit theft, etc
440 Mischief committed after preparation made for causing death
or hurt

Of Criminal Trespass

441 Criminal trespass

442 House trespass
443 Lurking house-trespass
444 Lurking house-trespass by night
445 House breaking
446 House-breaking by night
447 Punishment for criminal trespass
448 Punishment for house-trespass
449 House-trespass in order to commit offence punishable with
death
450 House-trespass in order to commit offence punishable with
imprisonment for life
451 House-trespass in order to commit offence punishable with
imprisonment
452 House-trespass after preparation for hurt, assault or wrongful
restraint
453 Punishment for lurking house-trespass or house-breaking
454 Lurking house-trespass or house-breaking in order to commit
offence punishable with imprisonment
455 Lurking house-trespass or house-breaking after preparation
for hurt, assault or wrongful restraint
456 Punishment for lurking house-trespass or house-breaking by
night
457 Lurking house-trespass or house-breaking by night in order to
commit offence punishable with imprisonment
458 Lurking house-trespass or house-breaking by night after
preparation for hurt, assault, or wrongful restraint
459 Grievous hurt caused whilst committing lurking house-
trespass or house-breaking
460 All persons jointly concerned in lurking house-trespass or
house- breaking by night punishable where death or grievous
 hurt caused by one of them
461 Dishonestly breaking open receptacle containing property
462 Punishment for same offence when committed by person
entrusted with custody

CHAPTER XVIII OF OFFENCES RELATING TO DOCUMENTS AND TO

PROPERTY MARKS

463 Forgery
464 Making a false document
465 Punishment for forgery
466 Forgery of record of court or of public register, etc
468 Forgery for purpose of cheating
469 Forgery for purpose of harming reputation
470 Forged document
471 Using as genuine a forged document
472 Making or possessing counterfeit seal, etc, with intent to
commit forgery punishable under section 467
473 Making or possessing counterfeit seal, etc, with intent to
commit forgery punishable otherwise
474 Having possession of document described in section 466 or
467, knowing it to be forged and intending to use it as
genuine
475 Counterfeiting device or mark used for authenticating
documents described in section 467, or possessing
counterfeit marked material
476 Counterfeiting device or mark used for authenticating
documents other than those described in section 467, or
possessing counterfeit marked material
477 Fraudulent cancellation, destruction, etc of will, authority to
adopt, or valuable security
477A Falsification of accounts

Of Property and Other Marks

478 Repealed
479 Property mark
480 Repealed
481 Using a false property mark
482 Punishment for using a false property mark
483 Counterfeiting a property mark used by another
484 Counterfeiting a mark used by a public servant
485 Marking or possession of any instrument for counterfeiting a
property mark
486 Selling goods marked with a counterfeit property mark
 487 Making a false mark upon any receptacle containing goods
488 Punishment for making use of any such false mark
489 Tampering with property mark with intent to cause injury

Of Currency-Notes and Bank-Notes

489A Counterfeiting currency-notes or bank-notes

489B Using as genuine, forged or counterfeit currency-notes or
bank-notes
489C Possession of forged or counterfeit currency-notes or bank-
notes
489D Making or possessing instruments or materials for forging or
counterfeiting currency-notes or bank-notes
489E Making or using documents resembling currency-notes or
bank-notes

CHAPTER XIX OF THE CRIMINAL BREACH OF CONTRACTS OF

SERVICE

490 Repealed
491 Breach of contract to attend on and supply wants of helpless
person
492 Repealed

CHAPTER XX OF OFFENCES RELATING TO MARRIAGE

493 Cohabitation caused by a man deceitfully inducing a belief of

lawful marriage 176
494 Marrying again during lifetime of husband or wife
495 Same offence with concealment of former marriage from
person with whom subsequent marriage is contracted
496 Marriage ceremony fraudulently gone through without lawful
marriage
497 Adultery
498 Enticing or taking away or detaining with criminal intent a
married woman

CHAPTER XXA OF CRUELTY BY HUSBAND OR RELATIVES OF

HUSBAND

498A Husband or relative of husband of a woman subjecting her to

cruelty

CHAPTER XXI OF DEFAMATION

 499 Defamation Imputation of truth which public good requires to
be made or published
Public conduct of public servants
Conduct of any person touching any public question
Publication of reports of proceedings of Courts
Merits of case decided in Court or conduct of witnesses and
others concerned
Merits of public performance
Censure passed in good faith by person having lawful
authority over another
G Accusation preferred in good faith to authorised person
H Imputation made in good faith by person for protection of his
or other’s interests
i Caution intended for good of person to whom conveyed or for
public good
500 Punishment for defamation
501 Printing or engraving matter known to be defamatory
502 Sale of printed or engraved substance containing defamatory
matter

CHAPTER XXII OF CRIMINAL INTIMIDATION, INSULT AND ANNOYANCE

503 Criminal intimidation

504 Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace
505 Statements conducing to public mischief
Statements creating or promoting enmity, hatred or ill-will
between classes
Offence under sub-section (2) committed in place of worship,
etc
506 Punishment for criminal intimidation
If threat be to cause death or grievous hurt, etc
507 Criminal intimidation by an anonymous communication
508 Act caused by inducing person to believe that he will be
rendered an object of the Divine displeasure
509 Word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a
woman
510 Misconduct in public by a drunken person

CHAPTER XXIII OF ATTEMPTS TO COMMIT OFFENCES

511 Punishment for attempting to commit offences punishable

with imprisonment for life or other imprisonment
 The Indian Penal Code

Introduction

In the uncivilized society no person was said to be safe from attacks to his person
or property by any other person. The person attacked either succumbed or over-
powered his opponent. A tooth for a tooth, an eye for an eye, a life for a life was
the rule of law. With the advancement of time, the injured person agreed to accept
compensation, instead of killing his adversary. For a long time the function of
settling the terms remained with the parties themselves, but gradually this function
came to be performed by the State.

In India the criminal jurisprudence came into existence from the time of
Manu. Manu has recognized assault, theft, robbery, false evidence, slander,
criminal breach of trust, cheating, adultery and rape. The king protected his
subjects and the subjects in return owed him allegiance and paid him revenue.
The king administered justice himself, if unable due to certain circumstances, the
matter was entrusted to a judge. If a criminal was fined, the fine went to the king’s
treasury and was not given as compensation to the injured party.

Different laws came into existence in the reins of different rulers. When the
Britishers came into India they adopted a different set of law which was based on
British pattern, but it was not uniform throughout India. Different regulations were
passed prescribing practice and procedure to be followed. In 1834 the first Indian
Law Commission was constituted to investigate into the jurisdiction, powers and
rules of the existing courts as well as police establishments and into the laws in
operation in British India. The Indian Penal Code was drafted by the first Indian
Law Commission under the presidentship of Macaulay and was submitted to the
Governor-General of India in Council in 1837. It was circulated to the Judges and
law advisors of the Crown. In 1845, another Commission was appointed to review
the Code. This Commission submitted its report in two parts, one in 1846 and the
other in 1847. The Code was revised according to the report of the Commission
but it never saw the light of the day. Subsequently, it was revised by two Law
Members of the Governor-General of India in Council and was presented to the
Legislative Council in 1856.

Act 45 of 1860

The Indian Penal Code Bill was passed by the Legislative Council and it received
the assent of the Governor-General on 6th October, 1860. It came on the Statute
Book as THE INDIAN PENAL CODE (45 of 1860).

List of Amending Acts and Adaptation Orders

1. The Repealing Act, 1870 (14 of 1870).

2. The Indian Penal Code Amendment Act, 1870 (27 of 1870).