BNS §251
Offering gift or restoration of property in consideration of screening offender
Jump to section
Comparison
214. Offering gift or restoration of property in consideration of screening offender.—Whoever gives or causes, or offers or agrees to give or cause, any gratification to any person, or 4[restores or causes the restoration of] any property to any person, in consideration of that person's 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, if a capital offence.—shall, 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; if punishable with imprisonment for life, or with imprisonment.—and if the offence is punishable with 1[imprisonment for life] or with imprisonment which may extend to ten years, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, and shall also be liable to fine; and if the offence is punishable with imprisonment not extending to ten years, shall 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. 5[Exception.—The provisions of sections 213 and 214 do not extend to any case in which the offence may lawfully be compounded.] 1. Ins. by Act 3 of 1894, s. 7. 2. The words “British India” have successively been subs. by the A. O. 1948, the A. O. 1950 and Act 3 of 1951 s. 3 and the Sch., to read as above. 3. Subs. by Act 26 of 1955, s. 117 and the Sch., for “transportation for life” (w.e.f. 1-1-1956). 4. Subs. by Act 42 of 1953, s. 4 and the Third Sch., for “to restore or cause the restoration of”. 5. Subs. by Act 8 of 1882, s. 6, for the original exception. 1* * * * *
Whoever gives or causes, or offers or agrees to give or cause, any gratification to any person, or restores or causes the restoration of any property to any person, in consideration of that person's 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.
What changedAI-inferred
IPC 214 (offering gift or restoration of property in consideration of concealing offence or screening offender; three-tier punishment) is preserved character-identically as BNS 251 including the lawfully-compoundable Exception.
Old position
IPC 214 is concerned with Offering gift or restoration of property in consideration of screening offender- if a capital offence; if punishable with imprisonment for life, or with imprisonment. Offering gift or restoration of property in consideration of screening offender
New position
BNS 251 preserves the framework with drafting modernisations as required by the new code. Topic: Offering gift or restoration of property in consideration of screening offender. Whoever gives or causes, or offers or agrees to give or cause, any gratification to any person, or restores or causes the restoration of any property to any person, in consideration of that person's concealing an offence, or of his
IPC 214 (offering gift or restoration of property in consideration of concealing offence or screening offender; three-tier punishment) is preserved character-identically as BNS 251 including the lawfully-compoundable Exception.
Editorial deltaAI-indicated (source-linked)
IPC 214 (offering gift or restoration of property in consideration of concealing offence or screening offender; three-tier punishment) is preserved character-identically as BNS 251 including the lawfully-compoundable Exception.
Transitional note (repeal & savings)
For matters initiated before 1 July 2024, IPC 214 continues to apply. For matters from that date forward, BNS 251 applies. The transition is governed by the repeal-and-savings clause in the new code (BNS 358 / BNSS 531 / BSA 170 as the case may be); pending proceedings under the old code carry forward unaffected.
Frequently asked
BNS 251 (Offering gift or restoration of property in consideration of screening offender). The relationship is classified as substantively_same — see the change-note above for the textual delta.
Sources
- India Code — Indian Penal Code, 1860
- Gazette of India — Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
Cite this page
Newlaws.in, IPC §214 → BNS §251 Mapping Page, last updated 2026-05-01, accessed 2026-06-15, https://newlaws.in/bns/251.
Compiled using AI-assisted tools · Source-linked · Last updated 2026-05-01
Not legal advice. Verify against the bare act and consult a qualified advocate for any specific matter.