BNS Section 227 — Giving false evidence

Summary

A person is said to give false evidence when they are legally bound by an oath or by an express provision of law to state the truth, or are bound by law to make a declaration on any subject, and they make a statement that is false, and they either know or believe it to be false, or do not believe it to be true.

Explanation 1 clarifies that a statement can be made verbally or in any other way, and it still counts as a statement under this section.

Explanation 2 clarifies that a false statement about what a person believes is also covered. A person can be guilty of giving false evidence by stating that they believe something they do not believe, just as they can by stating that they know something they do not know.

Illustration (a) shows a person who falsely swears in a trial that they heard someone admit the justice of a claim, in support of a just claim. This person has given false evidence.

Illustration (b) shows a person bound by an oath to state the truth who states that they believe a certain signature is someone's handwriting when they do not actually believe it is. This person states what they know to be false, and therefore gives false evidence.

Illustration (c) shows a person who, knowing the general character of someone's handwriting, states in good faith that they believe a signature is that person's handwriting. Since the statement is true as to their belief, even if the signature is not actually that person's handwriting, this person has not given false evidence.

Illustration (d) shows a person bound by an oath to state the truth who states that they know someone was at a particular place on a particular day, without knowing anything about the subject. This person gives false evidence whether or not that person was actually there on that day.

Illustration (e) shows an interpreter or translator who is bound by oath to interpret or translate truly, and who gives or certifies as true an interpretation or translation that is not true and that they do not believe to be true. This person has given false evidence.

Official Text

Whoever, being legally bound by an oath or by an express provision of law to state the truth, or being bound by law to make a declaration upon any subject, makes any statement which is false, and which he either knows or believes to be false or does not believe to be true, is said to give false evidence.

Explanation 1.—A statement is within the meaning of this section, whether it is made verbally or otherwise.

Explanation 2.—A false statement as to the belief of the person attesting is within the meaning of this section, and a person may be guilty of giving false evidence by stating that he believes a thing which he does not believe, as well as by stating that he knows a thing which he does not know.

Illustrations.

(a) A, in support of a just claim which B has against Z for one thousand rupees, falsely swears on a trial that he heard Z admit the justice of B’s claim. A has given false evidence.

(b) A, being bound by an oath to state the truth, states that he believes a certain signature to be the handwriting of Z, when he does not believe it to be the handwriting of Z. Here A states that which he knows to be false, and therefore gives false evidence.

(c) A, knowing the general character of Z’s handwriting, states that he believes a certain signature to be the handwriting of Z; A in good faith believing it to be so. Here A’s statement is merely as to his belief, and is true as to his belief, and therefore, although the signature may not be the handwriting of Z, A has not given false evidence.

(d) A, being bound by an oath to state the truth, states that he knows that Z was at a particular place on a particular day, not knowing anything upon the subject. A gives false evidence whether Z was at that place on the day named or not.

(e) A, an interpreter or translator, gives or certifies as a true interpretation or translation of a statement or document which he is bound by oath to interpret or translate truly, that which is not and which he does not believe to be a true interpretation or translation. A has given false evidence.

Related Judgments

• SC (2025) Vol.3 p.1309 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
• SC (2025) Vol.11 p.291 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
• SC (2025) Vol.3 p.1531 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
• SC (2025) Vol.6 p.280 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
• SC (2024) Vol.8 p.670 — Supreme Court of India (2024)
• SC (2025) Vol.7 p.105 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
• SC (2024) Vol.6 p.129 — Supreme Court of India (2024)
• SC (2025) Vol.4 p.2730 — Supreme Court of India (2025)

Old <-> New Code Mapping

• IPC §191 — Giving false evidence