Section 177 IPC: Furnishing false information
Indian Penal Code, 1860
Section 177 IPC at a Glance
Section 177 IPC deals with furnishing false information. It is bailable and non-cognizable, triable by any Magistrate; from 1 July 2024 it is replaced by Section 212 BNS.
Simple imprisonment for up to six months. Where the information respects the commission of an offence, or is required to prevent an offence or to apprehend an offender, imprisonment of either description for up to two years.
Section 177 IPC Bare Act Text
177. Furnishing false information
Whoever, being legally bound to furnish information on any subject to any public servant, as such, furnishes, as true, information on the subject which he knows or has reason to believe to be false shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both; or, if the information which he is legally bound to give respects the commission of an offence, or is required for the purpose of preventing the commission of an offence, or in order to the apprehension of an offender, with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.
Illustrations(a) A, a landholder, knowing of the commission of a murder within the limits of his estate, wilfully misinforms the Magistrate of the district that the death has occurred by accident in consequence of the bite of a snake. A is guilty of the offence defined in this section.
(b) A, a village watchman, knowing that a considerable body of strangers has passed through his village in order to commit a dacoity in the house of Z, a wealthy merchant residing in a neighbouring place, and being bound under clause 5, section VII, Regulation III, 1821, of the Bengal Code, to give early and punctual information of the above fact to the officer of the nearest police-station, wilfully misinforms the police officer that a body of suspicious characters passed through the village with a view to commit dacoity in a certain distant place in a different direction. Here A is guilty of the offence defined in the latter part of this section.
ExplanationIn section 176 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; and the word “offender” includes any person who is alleged to have been guilty of any such act.
Source: Section 177, Indian Penal Code, 1860
Section 177 IPC in Simple Words
Section 177 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) punishes a person who is legally bound to furnish information on any subject to a public servant, as such, and furnishes as true information that he knows or has reason to believe to be false. The punishment is simple imprisonment for up to six months, or fine up to one thousand rupees, or both.
The punishment is higher where the information respects the commission of an offence, or is required to prevent an offence or to apprehend an offender. It is then imprisonment of either description for up to two years, or fine, or both.
The section sets no maximum for the fine in that case. The offence is non-cognizable and bailable, and it is triable by any Magistrate.
Ingredients of Section 177 IPC
- The accused was legally bound to furnish information on a subject to a public servant, as such
- The accused furnished the information as true
- The information was false
- The accused knew or had reason to believe that it was false
- If the information respects the commission of an offence, or is required to prevent an offence or to apprehend an offender, the higher punishment applies
Punishment Under Section 177 IPC
Simple imprisonment for up to six months. Where the information respects the commission of an offence, or is required to prevent an offence or to apprehend an offender, imprisonment of either description for up to two years.
Fine up to one thousand rupees on the first limb. On the second limb the section provides for fine without fixing a maximum amount. The court may impose fine instead of imprisonment or in addition to it.
Furnishing false information to a public servant carries simple imprisonment for up to six months, or fine up to one thousand rupees, or both. Where it respects the commission of an offence, the limit is imprisonment of either description for up to two years, or fine, or both.
Example of Section 177 IPC
When Section 177 IPC Does Not Apply
- Section 177 IPC does not apply if the person had no legal obligation to supply the information to a public servant acting in an official capacity.
- No offence is committed when the person expressly states that the information is an unverified rumour rather than furnishing it as true.
- The provision is inapplicable where the statement is accurate, or where the person honestly believed it to be true without any reason to believe it false.
- Failing to supply required information altogether is dealt with under Section 176 IPC rather than Section 177 IPC.
Section 177 IPC in the BNS
Section 177 IPC is now covered under Section 212 BNS.
Section 177 IPC is now Section 212 BNS, with the same title. In the first limb the maximum fine rises from one thousand rupees to five thousand rupees. The imprisonment of six months and two years is the same, and the second limb still sets no maximum for the fine. The two limbs are set out as clauses a and b, and the words or if become where. Illustration b says legally bound in place of the reference to a Regulation of 1821 of the Bengal Code, and it says the offence defined in this section in place of the latter part of this section. The Explanation refers to Section 211 BNS in place of Section 176 IPC, and its list of sections is restated by BNS section numbers and sub-sections.
View detailed comparison (IPC 177 vs BNS 212) →FAQs on Section 177 IPC
What does Section 177 IPC provide?▼
It punishes a person who is legally bound to furnish information on any subject to a public servant, as such, and furnishes as true information that he knows or has reason to believe to be false.
What is the punishment under Section 177 IPC?▼
Simple imprisonment for up to six months, or fine up to one thousand rupees, or both. Where the information respects the commission of an offence, or is required to prevent an offence or to apprehend an offender, imprisonment of either description for up to two years, or fine, or both.
How does Section 177 IPC differ from Section 176 IPC?▼
Section 177 IPC punishes furnishing information as true that the person knows or has reason to believe to be false. Section 176 IPC punishes intentionally omitting to give a notice or to furnish information that the person is legally bound to give.
What must be shown for an offence under Section 177 IPC?▼
That the accused was legally bound to furnish information to a public servant, as such, furnished it as true, and knew or had reason to believe that it was false.
Is an offence under Section 177 IPC cognizable and bailable?▼
It is non-cognizable and bailable, for both limbs.
Which court tries an offence under Section 177 IPC?▼
Any Magistrate.
Can an offence under Section 177 IPC be compounded?▼
No. It is not listed in Section 320 CrPC.
Where is Section 177 IPC in the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita?▼
In Section 212 BNS.
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Sources: Bare Act Text, Indian Penal Code, 1860 · Last updated: 16 Oct 2026 ·