241. Whoever secretes or destroys any document or electronic record which he may be lawfully compelled to produce as evidence in a Court or in any proceeding lawfully held before a public servant, as such, or obliterates or renders illegible the whole or any part of such document or electronic record with the intention of preventing the same from being produced or used as evidence before such Court or public servant as aforesaid, or after he shall have been lawfully summoned or required to produce the same for that purpose, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine which may extend to five thousand rupees, or with both.
IPC Section 204 in BNS: Section 241
Destruction of document to prevent its production as evidence
Section 204 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (Destruction of document to prevent its production as evidence) corresponds to Section 241 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, in force from 1 July 2024. Under the BNSS First Schedule, BNS 241 is non-cognizable, bailable, triable by Magistrate of the first class; punishment: Imprisonment for 3 years, or fine of 5,000 rupees, or both.
Bail, cognizability and punishment
| Section | Offence | Punishment | Cognizable | Bailable | Triable by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 241 | Secreting or destroying any document to prevent its production as evidence. | Imprisonment for 3 years, or fine of 5,000 rupees, or both. | Non-cognizable | Bailable | Magistrate of the first class |
Source: BNSS, 2023, First Schedule, Part I.
The BNS applies to offences committed on or after 1 July 2024. Offences committed earlier are charged and tried under the IPC.
Text of BNS Section 241
Full BNS Section 241 and every IPC section it replaced →
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