BNS Section 217 — False information, with intent to cause public servant to use his lawful power to injury of another person

Summary

Whoever gives any information to a public servant, knowing or believing that the information is false, and does so with the intention of causing that public servant to act in a certain way, or knowing that it is likely the public servant will act that way, commits an offence. The false information must be given with the aim that the public servant will either do something or fail to do something that they would not do or omit if they knew the true facts, or that the public servant will use their lawful power to harm or annoy any person.

The punishment for this offence is imprisonment of either kind for a term that may extend to one year, or a fine that may extend to ten thousand rupees, or both.

Illustration (a): A informs a Magistrate that Z, a police officer under that Magistrate, has been guilty of neglect of duty or misconduct, knowing this information to be false and knowing it is likely that the information will cause the Magistrate to dismiss Z. A has committed the offence defined in this section.

Illustration (b): A falsely informs a public servant that Z has contraband salt in a secret place, knowing the information to be false and knowing that it is likely that the consequence will be a search of Z's premises, causing annoyance to Z. A has committed the offence defined in this section.

Illustration (c): A falsely informs a policeman that he has been assaulted and robbed near a particular village. He does not name any person as his assailant, but knows it is likely that in consequence of this information the police will make enquiries and institute searches in the village, causing annoyance to the villagers or some of them. A has committed an offence under this section.

Official Text

Whoever gives to any public servant any information which he knows or believes to be false, intending thereby to cause, or knowing it to be likely that he will thereby cause, such public servant—

(a) to do or omit anything which such public servant ought not to do or omit if the true state of facts respecting which such information is given were known by him; or

(b) to use the lawful power of such public servant to the injury or annoyance of any person, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine which may extend to ten thousand rupees, or with both.

Illustrations.

(a) A informs a Magistrate that Z, a police officer, subordinate to such Magistrate, has been guilty of neglect of duty or misconduct, knowing such information to be false, and knowing it to be likely that the information will cause the Magistrate to dismiss Z. A has committed the offence defined in this section.

(b) A falsely informs a public servant that Z has contraband salt in a secret place, knowing such information to be false, and knowing that it is likely that the consequence of the information will be a search of Z’s premises, attended with annoyance to Z. A has committed the offence defined in this section.

(c) A falsely informs a policeman that he has been assaulted and robbed in the neighbourhood of a particular village. He does not mention the name of any person as one of his assailants, but knows it to be likely that in consequence of this information the police will make enquiries and institute searches in the village to the annoyance of the villagers or some of them. A has committed an offence under this section.

Related Judgments

• SC (2025) Vol.3 p.1309 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
• SC (2025) Vol.11 p.291 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
• S.C.R. 138 SANTOSH BAKSHI v. STATE OF PUNJAB & ORS — Supreme Court of India (2014)
• SC (2025) Vol.3 p.1531 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
• N.Elangovan .. Petitioner vs 1.Mohana Sugumaran — Madras High Court (2011)
• SC (2025) Vol.6 p.280 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
• SC (2025) Vol.4 p.2730 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
• SC (2025) Vol.2 p.80 — Supreme Court of India (2025)

Old <-> New Code Mapping

• IPC §182 — False information, with intent to cause public servant to use his lawful power to injury of another person