Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 · Section 388

BNSS 388: earlier CrPC 349

Section 388 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 replaces Section 349 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973. BNSS 388 deals with imprisonment or committal of person refusing to answer or produce document. The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita came into force on 1 July 2024. Both texts are set out below, side by side, with the changed words marked.

Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita

BNSS 388 was CrPC 349.

Imprisonment or committal of person refusing to answer or produce document.

Carried over
Old wording kept in full
Old · CrPC 1973 · Ch. XXVI
s. 349
Imprisonment or committal of person refusing to answer or produce document
If any witness or person called to produce a document or thing before a Criminal Court refuses to answer such questions as are put to him or to produce any document or thing in his possession or power which the Court requires him to produce, and does not, after a reasonable opportunity has been given to him so to do, offer any reasonable excuse for such refusal, such Court may, for reasons to be recorded in writing, sentence him to simple imprisonment, or by warrant under the hand of the Presiding Magistrate or Judge commit him to the custody of an officer of the Court for any term not exceeding seven days, unless in the meantime, such person consents to be examined and to answer, or to produce the document or thing and in the event of his persisting in his refusal, he may be dealt with according to the provisions of section 345 or section 346.
Text from the official India Code PDF
New · BNSS 2023 · Ch. XXVIII
s. 388
Imprisonment or committal of person refusing to answer or produce document.
If any witness or person called to produce a document or thing before a Criminal Court refuses to answer such questions as are put to him or to produce any document or thing in his possession or power which the Court requires him to produce, and does not, after a reasonable opportunity has been given to him so to do, offer any reasonable excuse for such refusal, such Court may, for reasons to be recorded in writing, sentence him to simple imprisonment, or by warrant under the hand of the Presiding Magistrate or Judge commit him to the custody of an officer of the Court for any term not exceeding seven days, unless in the meantime, such person consents to be examined and to answer, or to produce the document or thing and in the event of his persisting in his refusal, he may be dealt with according to the provisions of section 384 or section 385.
Text from India Code

The new section for any IPC, CrPC or Evidence Act provision, and the old one for any BNS, BNSS or BSA section, with a converter for whole charges. Free, no sign-up.

Section-wise charts: IPC to BNS chart · CrPC to BNSS chart · Evidence Act to BSA chart

Open the converter