240. 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.
BNS Section 240: Giving false information respecting an offence committed
Section 240 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 deals with giving false information respecting an offence committed. It replaces IPC 203 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860. Under the BNSS First Schedule, BNS 240 is non-cognizable and bailable.
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Bail, cognizability and punishment
| Section | Offence | Punishment | Cognizable | Bailable | Triable by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 240 | Giving false information respecting an offence committed. | Imprisonment for 2 years, or fine, or both. | Non-cognizable | Bailable | Any Magistrate |
Source: BNSS, 2023, First Schedule, Part I.
Text of BNS Section 240
IPC sections replaced
- IPC 203: Giving false information respecting an offence committed
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