Whoever fraudulently or dishonestly, or with intent to cause damage or injury to the public or to any person, cancels, destroys or defaces, or attempts to cancel, destroy or deface, or secretes or attempts to secrete any document which is or purports to be a will, or an authority to adopt a son, or any valuable security, or commits mischief in respect of such document, shall be punished with imprisonment for life, or with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.
IPC Section 477: Simplified Explanation
IPC Section 477 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) addresses the offence of fraudulently or with intent to cause damage or injury, cancelling, destroying, or defacing, or attempting to cancel, destroy, or deface, or secreting or otherwise making away with any book, electronic record, paper, writing, valuable security, or document. This section punishes those who intentionally damage, destroy, or hide important documents to obstruct justice, cause financial harm, or mislead individuals or organisations.
This provision safeguards the integrity of documents and records, ensuring that malicious tampering aimed at causing loss or avoiding obligations can be penalised. It recognises the significance of documents in legal, financial, and administrative processes. It aims to deter acts that would undermine these processes.
Is IPC Section 477 Bailable?
IPC Section 477 is non-bailable. This status indicates that the accused does not automatically have the right to bail. It is at the court’s discretion to decide based on the seriousness of the offence, the risk posed by the accused if released, and other relevant factors.
IPC Section 477 Punishment
The Punishment for the offence under IPC Section 477 is imprisonment for a term that may extend to seven years and liable to a fine. This reflects the severity of the potential damage that such actions can cause to individuals, businesses, or the functioning of the state, given the crucial nature of the documents involved.
Example of IPC Section 477
A real-life example of an offence under IPC Section 477 could involve an accountant deliberately destroying financial records to conceal embezzlement or fraud. Suppose an accountant, realising an impending audit would reveal their theft of funds, decides to burn or delete critical financial records to prevent discovery. This act of destroying documents to cover up financial misdeeds would fall under IPC Section 477, as it involves intentional destruction to cause damage and avoid legal consequences.
