BNS Section 250 — Taking gift, etc., to screen an offender from punishment

Summary

Whoever accepts, tries to obtain, or agrees to accept any gratification (a reward or payment) for himself or for anyone else, or any return of property to himself or to anyone else, in return for hiding an offence, shielding any person from legal punishment for an offence, or choosing not to proceed against any person to bring them to legal punishment, will be punished as follows.

Under clause (a), if the offence that was concealed or shielded is punishable with death, the person accepting the gratification shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term that may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.

Under clause (b), if the offence is punishable with imprisonment for life, or with imprisonment that may extend to ten years, the person shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term that may extend to three years, and shall also be liable to fine.

Under clause (c), if the offence is punishable with imprisonment not extending to ten years, the person shall be punished with imprisonment of the description provided for that offence for a term that may extend to one-fourth of the longest term of imprisonment provided for the offence, or with fine, or with both.

Official Text

Whoever accepts or attempts to obtain, or agrees to accept, any gratification for himself or any other person, or any restitution of property to himself or any other person, in consideration of his concealing an offence or of his screening any person from legal punishment for any offence, or of his not proceeding against any person for the purpose of bringing him to legal punishment shall,—

(a) if the offence is punishable with death, be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine;

(b) if the offence is punishable with imprisonment for life, or with imprisonment which may extend to ten years, be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, and shall also be liable to fine;

(c) if the offence is punishable with imprisonment not extending to ten years, be punished with imprisonment of the description provided for the offence for a term which may extend to one-fourth part of the longest term of imprisonment provided for the offence, or with fine, or with both.

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.6 p.280 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
• SC (2025) Vol.3 p.1531 — 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 (2024) Vol.10 p.930 — Supreme Court of India (2024)

Old <-> New Code Mapping

• IPC §213 — Taking gift, etc., to screen an offender from punishment