Section 241 BNS: Destruction of document or electronic record to prevent its production as evidence
Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
Section 241 BNS at a Glance
Section 241 BNS deals with destruction of document or electronic record to prevent its production as evidence. It is bailable and non-cognizable, triable by Magistrate of the first class; it replaced Section 204 IPC on 1 July 2024.
Imprisonment of either description for up to three years.
Section 241 BNS Bare Act Text
241. Destruction of document to prevent its production as evidence
Whoever secretes or destroys any document or electronic record which he may be lawfully compelled to produce as evidence in a Court or in any proceeding lawfully held before a public servant, as such, or obliterates or renders illegible the whole or any part of such document or electronic record with the intention of preventing the same from being produced or used as evidence before such Court or public servant as aforesaid, or after he shall have been lawfully summoned or required to produce the same for that purpose, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine which may extend to five thousand rupees, or with both.
Source: Section 241, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
Section 241 BNS in Simple Words
Section 241 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) deals with hiding, destroying, or tampering with a document or electronic record to stop it from being used as evidence. It applies when a person secretes, destroys, obliterates, or makes illegible all or part of a document or electronic record that they may be lawfully compelled to produce in a Court or in a lawful proceeding before a public servant.
The offence is committed when this is done with the intention of preventing the document or electronic record from being produced or used as evidence, or after the person has been lawfully summoned or required to produce it. The punishment is imprisonment of either description for up to three years, or fine up to five thousand rupees, or both.
In practice, this provision protects court cases and official inquiries against the deliberate destruction of physical documents and digital records.
Ingredients of Section 241 BNS
- The secreting, destruction, obliteration or rendering illegible of a document or electronic record, or of any part of it
- The document or electronic record is one that the accused might be lawfully compelled to produce as evidence
- The intention of preventing its production or use as evidence, or the act done after a lawful summons or requirement to produce it
Punishment Under Section 241 BNS
Imprisonment of either description for up to three years.
Fine up to five thousand rupees. The offender may be punished with fine alone or with both imprisonment and fine.
Secreting or destroying a document or electronic record to prevent its production as evidence carries imprisonment for up to three years, or fine up to five thousand rupees, or both.
Example of Section 241 BNS
When Section 241 BNS Does Not Apply
- The document or electronic record is not one that the accused might be lawfully compelled to produce as evidence in a Court or in a proceeding lawfully held before a public servant
- The accused did not secrete, destroy, obliterate or render illegible the document or electronic record or any part of it
- The act was not done with the intention of preventing the document or electronic record from being produced or used as evidence, and was not done after a lawful summons or requirement to produce it
Section 241 BNS in the IPC (Previous Law)
Section 241 BNS replaces Section 204 IPC from the old criminal code.
Section 204 IPC is now Section 241 BNS. The title adds electronic record, the words Court of Justice become Court, the longest imprisonment rises from two years to three years, and the fine may now extend to five thousand rupees where the IPC fixes no amount.
View IPC Section 204 →FAQs on Section 241 BNS
What does Section 241 BNS cover?▼
Section 241 BNS covers hiding, destroying, obliterating, or making illegible a document or electronic record that a person may be lawfully compelled to produce as evidence. It also applies if this is done with the intention of preventing the document or record from being produced or used as evidence before a Court or a public servant in a lawful proceeding.
What must be proved for an offence under Section 241 BNS?▼
It must be shown that the person secreted, destroyed, obliterated, or rendered illegible a document or electronic record that could lawfully be required as evidence. It must also be shown that this was done with the intention of preventing its production or use as evidence, or after the person had been lawfully summoned or required to produce it.
Is Section 241 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 241 BNS?▼
The punishment under Section 241 BNS may extend to imprisonment for three years, or fine up to five thousand rupees, or both. The exact sentence depends on the facts of the case and the court's decision.
Is deleting an electronic record to stop it being used in court covered by Section 241 BNS?▼
Yes, Section 241 BNS expressly covers an electronic record as well as a document. If someone deletes, destroys, or makes an electronic record unreadable with the intention of preventing it from being produced or used as evidence, this section may apply.
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Sources: Bare Act Text, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 · Last updated: 16 Oct 2026 ·