IPC Section 504 — Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace
criminal intimidation, insult and annoyance
Criminal
Punishment
Imprisonment up to 2 years, or fine, or both
As the section puts it: “shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both”
Summary
If someone deliberately insults another person in a way that is meant to provoke that person into disturbing the public peace or committing a crime, that insult is an offence. The person who gives the insult can be sent to jail for up to two years, or fined, or both.
Official Text
Whoever intentionally insults, and thereby gives provocation to any person, intending or knowing it to be likely that such provocation will cause him to break the public peace, or to commit any other offence, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.
Related Judgments
- B.V. RAM KUMAR vs STATE OF TELANGANA AND ANOTHER — Supreme Court of India (2025)
- MD. IBRAHIM & ORS. vs STATE OF BIHAR & ANR — Supreme Court of India (2009)
- MOHAMMAD WAJID AND ANR. vs STATE OF U.P. AND ORS — Supreme Court of India (2023)
- MADHUSHREE DATTA vs THE STATE OF KARNATAKA & ANR — Supreme Court of India (2025)
- OM PRAKASH AMBADKAR vs THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA & ORS — Supreme Court of India (2025)
- FIONA SHRIKHANDE vs STATE OF MAHARASHTRA AND ANOTHER — Supreme Court of India (2013)
Old <-> New Code Mapping
- BNS §352 — Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace
