Section 202 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023
⚖️ Section 202 — Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023
Title: Causing disappearance of evidence of offence, or giving false information to screen offender
This section deals with acts done to hide crimes or protect criminals by:
destroying or hiding evidence, or
giving false information to authorities.
🔍 Let’s break it into parts (in simple terms):
Section 202 has three main clauses, depending on the seriousness of the original offence being hidden.
🧩 Clause (1): Hiding Evidence or Giving False Info to Protect an Offender
If a person...
destroys evidence, or
hides the existence of an offence, or
gives false information to protect someone from legal punishment...
👉 Then they can be punished, depending on the severity of the original crime.
📚 Example:
If someone sees a murder and hides the weapon, they’re guilty under this section.
⚖️ Punishment Depends on the Original Crime:
| Original Crime | Punishment under Section 202 |
|---|---|
| Offence punishable with life imprisonment or death | Upto 7 years + fine |
| Offence punishable with ≥10 years | Upto 5 years + fine |
| Other offences | Upto 3 years, or fine, or both |
🧩 Clause (2): When the Offender is a Relative and the Crime is Not Too Serious
This is a bit of a relaxation of clause (1).
If the person hiding the offence is doing it to help a relative, and
The offence is not punishable with death or life imprisonment,
👉 Then the punishment is less severe:
Upto 1 year, or fine, or both.
This is based on human sympathy — people may try to protect family members.
🧩 Clause (3): Applies Only if No Other Specific Law Applies
This section doesn’t apply if the person’s action is already punished under some other specific law or section.
✅ Key Ideas to Remember:
| Point | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Main Goal | Punish those who help hide crimes or protect criminals |
| Actions Covered | Destroying evidence, giving false info |
| Who It Applies To | Anyone — but lighter punishment if helping a relative |
| Punishment Based On | The seriousness of the original offence being hidden |
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