Section 217 BNS: False information, with intent to cause public servant to use his lawful power to injury of another person
Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
Section 217 BNS at a Glance
Section 217 BNS deals with false information, with intent to cause public servant to use his lawful power to injury of another person. It is bailable and non-cognizable, triable by any Magistrate; it replaced Section 182 IPC on 1 July 2024.
Imprisonment of either description for up to one year.
Section 217 BNS Bare Act Text
217. False information, with intent to cause public servant to use his lawful power to the injury of another person
Whoever gives to any public servant any information which he knows or believes to be false, intending thereby to cause, or knowing it to be likely that he will thereby cause, such public servant—
(a) to do or omit anything which such public servant ought not to do or omit if the true state of facts respecting which such information is given were known by him; or
(b) to use the lawful power of such public servant to the injury or annoyance of any person, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine which may extend to ten thousand rupees, or with both.
Illustrations(a) A informs a Magistrate that Z, a police officer, subordinate to such Magistrate, has been guilty of neglect of duty or misconduct, knowing such information to be false, and knowing it to be likely that the information will cause the Magistrate to dismiss Z. A has committed the offence defined in this section.
(b) A falsely informs a public servant that Z has contraband salt in a secret place, knowing such information to be false, and knowing that it is likely that the consequence of the information will be a search of Z’s premises, attended with annoyance to Z. A has committed the offence defined in this section.
(c) A falsely informs a policeman that he has been assaulted and robbed in the neighbourhood of a particular village. He does not mention the name of any person as one of his assailants, but knows it to be likely that in consequence of this information the police will make enquiries and institute searches in the village to the annoyance of the villagers or some of them. A has committed an offence under this section.
Source: Section 217, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
Section 217 BNS in Simple Words
Section 217 BNS of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) deals with giving false information to a public servant. It applies when a person gives information that he knows or believes to be false, intending or knowing it to be likely that the public servant will do or omit something he ought not to do or omit if he knew the true facts, or will use his lawful power to the injury or annoyance of any person.
This section covers situations such as making a false complaint to a magistrate against a subordinate officer so that the officer is dismissed, falsely telling an official that a neighbour is hiding contraband so that the neighbour's house is searched, or falsely reporting a robbery near a village knowing that the police will conduct enquiries and searches to the annoyance of the villagers. The punishment is imprisonment of either description for up to one year, or fine up to ten thousand rupees, or both.
Ingredients of Section 217 BNS
- Information given to a public servant that the giver knows or believes to be false
- Intention, or knowledge of likelihood, that the public servant will thereby do or omit what he ought not to, or use his lawful power to the injury or annoyance of any person
Punishment Under Section 217 BNS
Imprisonment of either description for up to one year.
Fine of up to ten thousand rupees. The offender may be punished with fine alone or with both imprisonment and fine.
Giving a public servant information known or believed to be false, with the intent or knowledge the section describes, carries imprisonment of either description for up to one year, or fine of up to ten thousand rupees, or both.
Example of Section 217 BNS
When Section 217 BNS Does Not Apply
- The information was not given to a public servant
- The accused neither knew nor believed the information to be false
- The accused did not intend, and did not know it to be likely, that the public servant would do or omit what he ought not to, or use his lawful power to the injury or annoyance of any person
Section 217 BNS in the IPC (Previous Law)
Section 217 BNS replaces Section 182 IPC from the old criminal code.
Section 182 IPC is now Section 217 BNS. The elements and the illustrations are in the same words, but the maximum imprisonment rises from six months to one year and the maximum fine rises from one thousand rupees to ten thousand rupees. The BNS title also drops the word the before injury.
View IPC Section 182 →FAQs on Section 217 BNS
What is Section 217 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita about?▼
Section 217 BNS covers giving false information to a public servant on purpose, when the aim is to make that public servant use his lawful power to injure or annoy someone, or to do or omit something he should not do if the true facts were known. In simple words, it punishes knowingly false complaints or false inputs given to officials to cause harm to another person.
What has to be proved for an offence under Section 217 BNS?▼
It must be shown that the person gave information to a public servant, and that he knew or believed that information was false. It must also be shown that he intended, or knew it was likely, that the public servant would act on it in a way that would wrongly harm, annoy, or otherwise affect another person.
Is Section 217 BNS bailable?▼
Yes. This is a bailable offence, which means bail can be claimed as a matter of right. The accused is normally released on furnishing bail, subject to the usual conditions the court or police may impose.
What is the punishment under Section 217 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita?▼
The punishment written in Section 217 BNS is imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to one year, or fine which may extend to ten thousand rupees, or both. The exact sentence depends on the facts of the case.
Does Section 217 BNS apply only if I falsely name a specific person?▼
No. The illustration in the section shows that even if no particular person is named, the section can still apply if false information is given to a public servant and the maker knows it is likely to cause searches, enquiries, injury, or annoyance to people. So a false complaint aimed at causing official action against a person or even a group can fall under Section 217 BNS.
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Sources: Bare Act Text, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 · Last updated: 16 Oct 2026 ·