BNS Section 231 — Giving or fabricating false evidence with intent to procure conviction of offence punishable with imprisonment for life or imprisonment

CHAPTER XIV OF FALSE EVIDENCE AND OFFENCES AGAINST PUBLIC JUSTICE

Criminal

Summary

Whoever gives or fabricates false evidence, intending to cause, or knowing it is likely to cause, any person to be convicted of an offence that is not punishable by death but is punishable under Indian law with imprisonment for life, or with imprisonment for a term of seven years or more, shall be punished in the same way that a person convicted of that offence would be punished.

The illustration explains this with an example: A gives false evidence before a Court, intending to cause Z to be convicted of dacoity. Since the punishment for dacoity is imprisonment for life, or rigorous imprisonment for up to ten years, with or without fine, A is liable to the same punishment—imprisonment for life or imprisonment, with or without fine.

Official Text

Whoever gives or fabricates false evidence intending thereby to cause, or knowing it to be likely that he will thereby cause, any person to be convicted of an offence which by the law for the time being in force in India is not capital, but punishable with imprisonment for life, or imprisonment for a term of seven years or upwards, shall be punished as a person convicted of that offence would be liable to be punished.

Illustration. A gives false evidence before a Court, intending thereby to cause Z to be convicted of a dacoity. The punishment of dacoity is imprisonment for life, or rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to ten years, with or without fine. A, therefore, is liable to imprisonment for life or imprisonment, with or without fine.

Related Judgments

  • SC (2025) Vol.3 p.1309 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
  • SC (2025) Vol.3 p.1531 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
  • SC (2025) Vol.11 p.291 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
  • SC (2025) Vol.6 p.280 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
  • SC (2024) Vol.10 p.930 — Supreme Court of India (2024)
  • RAM DHAN v. STATE OF U.P. AND ANR. 1063 — Supreme Court of India (2012)
  • HP.L. CHEMICALS LTD v. COMMR. OF CENTRAL EXCISE, CHANDIGARH — Supreme Court of India (S)
  • S.C.R. 1153 SURESH CHANDRA SHARMA v. STATE OF M.P — Supreme Court of India (2009)

Old <-> New Code Mapping

  • IPC §195 — Giving or fabricating false evidence with intent to procure conviction of offence punishable with imprisonment for life or imprisonment