Indian Penal Code
IPC 203 is now BNS 240.
Giving false information respecting an offence committed
Carried over
80% of the old wording kept
Old · IPC 1860 · Ch. XI
s. 203
Giving false information respecting an offence committed
Whoever, knowing or having reason to believe that an offence has been committed, gives any information respecting that offence which he knows or believes to be false, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.
1[Explanation.—In sections 201 and 202 and in this section the word “offence” includes any act committed at any place out of 2[India], which, if committed in 2[India], would be punishable under any of the following sections, namely, 302, 304, 382, 392, 393, 394, 395, 396, 397, 398, 399, 402, 435, 436, 449, 450, 457, 458, 459 and 460.]
Text from the official India Code PDF
New · BNS 2023 · Ch. XIV
s. 240
Giving false information respecting an offence committed.
Whoever, knowing or having reason to believe that an offence has been committed, gives any information respecting that offence which he knows or believes to be false, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.
Explanation.—In sections 238 and 239 and in this section the word "offence" includes any act committed at any place out of India, which, if committed in India, would be punishable under any of the following sections, namely, 103, 105, 307, sub-sections (2), (3) and (4) of section 309, sub-sections (2), (3), (4) and (5) of section 310, 311, 312, clauses (f) and (g) of section 326, sub-sections (4), (6), (7) and (8) of section 331, clauses (a) and (b) of section 332.
Text from India Code