IPC 201 vs BNS 201
● Retained in BNSCausing disappearance of evidence of offence, or giving false information to screen offender
Section 201 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, deals with the concealment or destruction of evidence and providing false information with the intent to shield an offender. This section ensures that the course of justice is not obstructed by those who try to help criminals escape punishment.
Key provisions:
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If a person causes evidence of an offence to disappear or gives false information, knowing or having reason to believe that an offence has been committed, and intending to screen the offender:
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If the offence is punishable with death → punishment up to 7 years and fine.
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If punishable with life imprisonment or up to 10 years → punishment up to 3 years and fine.
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If punishable with less than 10 years → punishment up to 1/4th of the maximum punishment of that offence, or fine, or both.
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Example: Burning blood-stained clothes after a murder, or giving false testimony to mislead the investigation.
This provision ensures that aiding criminals by destroying or hiding evidence is treated as a serious crime.
Causing disappearance of evidence of offence, or giving false information to screen offender
Section 201 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, is a direct continuation of IPC 201. It penalizes anyone who destroys evidence, hides it, or provides false information to protect an offender from punishment.
Key provisions:
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Punishments remain structured according to the gravity of the offence being concealed:
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If offence punishable with death → up to 7 years imprisonment and fine.
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If punishable with life imprisonment or 10 years → up to 3 years imprisonment and fine.
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If punishable with less than 10 years → up to 1/4th of maximum punishment, or fine, or both.
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Example: Concealing a murder weapon, destroying digital records of fraud, or misleading police with false directions about a criminal’s whereabouts.
The BNS preserves the same framework of IPC 201 to ensure that justice cannot be obstructed by individuals attempting to shield offenders.
What changed?
This provision was carried over to the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita with substantially the same wording — the section was renumbered from IPC IPC 201 to BNS BNS 201.