BNSS Section 202 — Offences committed by means of electronic communications, letters, etc

CHAPTER XIV JURISDICTION OF THE CRIMINAL COURTS IN INQUIRIES AND TRIALS

Criminal

Summary

If a crime involves cheating through electronic communications, letters, or telecommunication messages, the case can be investigated or tried in any court where those messages were sent or received. For cheating that involves dishonestly inducing someone to deliver property, the case can be heard in a court where the property was delivered by the deceived person or received by the accused. For an offence under section 82 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, the case can be investigated or tried in a court where the offence happened, or where the offender last lived with their first spouse, or where the first wife has taken up permanent residence after the offence.

Official Text

(1) Any offence which includes cheating, may, if the deception is practised by means of electronic communications or letters or telecommunication messages, be inquired into or tried by any Court within whose local jurisdiction such electronic communications or letters or messages were sent or were received; and any offence of cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property may be inquired into or tried by a Court within whose local jurisdiction the property was delivered by the person deceived or was received by the accused person.

(2) Any offence punishable under section 82 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 may be inquired into or tried by a Court within whose local jurisdiction the offence was committed or the offender last resided with his or her spouse by the first marriage, or the wife by the first marriage has taken up permanent residence after the commission of the offence.

Related Judgments

  • SC (2025) Vol.5 p.730 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
  • SC (2025) Vol.6 p.545 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
  • SC (2024) Vol.7 p.979 — Supreme Court of India (2024)
  • SC (2025) Vol.11 p.291 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
  • .. Petitioner/Accused No.12 vs The State of Tamilnadu, — Madras High Court ()
  • SC (2025) Vol.2 p.1588 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
  • SC (2025) Vol.3 p.1309 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
  • SC (2025) Vol.1 p.1469 — Supreme Court of India (2025)

Old <-> New Code Mapping

  • CrPC §182 — Offences committed by means of electronic communications, letters, etc