Whoever, knowing or having reason to believe that an offence has been committed, gives any information respecting that offence which he knows or believes to be false, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.
Explanations
- In sections 201 and 202 and in this section the word “offence” includes any act committed at any place out of India, which, if committed in India, would be punishable under any of the following sections, namely, 302, 304, 382, 392, 393, 394, 395, 396, 397, 398, 399, 402, 435, 436, 449, 450, 457, 458, 459 and 460.
IPC Section 203: Simplified Explanation
IPC Section 203, a crucial provision, addresses the act of deliberately providing false information about the commission of an offence. This section comes into play when an individual knowingly furnishes false details about an offence, with the clear intention of misleading a public servant who is duty-bound to act upon such information.
Key Elements:
- The information given must be false.
- The person giving the information must know it is false.
- The false information must pertain to the commission of an offence.
- The intent must be to mislead a public servant.
Is IPC Section 203 Bailable?
Yes, IPC Section 203 is indeed a bailable offence. This implies that the accused has the right to seek release on bail, subject to specific conditions and the discretion of the court. These conditions may include the severity of the offence, the accused’s criminal record, and the likelihood of the accused tampering with evidence or influencing witnesses.
IPC Section 203 Punishment
The punishment for an offence under IPC Section 203 is imprisonment of either description for a term extending to two years, with a fine, or with both. The exact duration and amount of the fine are at the court’s discretion based on the offence’s severity and circumstances.
Example of IPC Section 203
Consider a scenario where Mr A witnesses an accident and falsely informs the police that Mr B, a known enemy, was driving the car involved in the accident, knowing very well that Mr B was not even present at the scene. Mr. A intends to cause trouble for Mr. B by implicating him in a false case. Here, Mr A can be prosecuted under IPC Section 203 for providing false information regarding the commission of an offence with the intent to mislead a public servant.
