IPC Section 430
📖 Section 430 IPC – Mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to destroy house, etc.
This section deals with deliberate acts of arson or using explosives to cause damage to property.
🔹 Textual Meaning
Whoever commits mischief by setting fire to, or by explosive substance, destroys or damages:
Any house, building, or movable property,
Belonging to another,
with the intent to cause wrongful loss or damage, is punishable under Section 430 IPC.
The key here is intentional damage using fire or explosives, not accidental fire.
🔹 Key Ingredients of Section 430 IPC
Act of mischief
Setting fire, using explosives, or similar acts causing destruction.
Property involved
Movable or immovable property:
House, warehouse, factory, shop, goods, crops, vehicles, etc.
Must belong to another person.
Intention (mens rea)
The act must be done intentionally to cause wrongful loss or damage.
Accidental fire does not fall under this section.
Consequences irrelevant for offence
Even if no one is injured, intended damage itself is sufficient for punishment.
🔹 Punishment
Imprisonment: Up to 2 years, or
Fine, or
Both.
If the act endangers human life, more serious sections like Section 436 IPC (mischief by fire) apply, which carries life imprisonment or 10 years.
📌 Example Scenarios
A person sets fire to a neighbor’s house out of revenge.
Punishable under Section 430 IPC.
Someone blows up a warehouse to destroy goods deliberately.
Covered under Section 430 IPC.
Using a firecracker to damage someone’s shop or vehicle intentionally.
Falls under Section 430 IPC.
🔹 Relation to Other Sections
| Section | Focus | Punishment | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 430 | Mischief by fire/explosives with intent to cause damage | ≤2 years | Burning neighbor’s shed |
| 431 | Mischief to railway/public transport property | ≤5 years | Tampering with railway tracks |
| 436 | Mischief by fire endangering human life | Life or ≤10 years | Burning a house with people inside |
| 427 | Mischief causing damage ≤50 rupees | ≤2 years or fine | Breaking a shop window |
✅ In short:
Section 430 IPC punishes anyone who intentionally uses fire or explosives to damage another person’s property, with imprisonment up to 2 years, fine, or both.
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