Section 192 IPC: Fabricating false evidence

Indian Penal Code, 1860

Section 192 IPC at a Glance

Section 192 IPC deals with fabricating false evidence. From 1 July 2024 it is replaced by Section 228 BNS.

Punishment

None. Section 192 IPC defines fabricating false evidence and sets no punishment of its own. The punishment is in Section 193 IPC.

BNS Equivalent

Section 228 →

Section 192 IPC Bare Act Text

192. Fabricating false evidence
Whoever causes any circumstance to exist or makes any false entry in any book or record, or electronic record or makes any document or electronic record containing a false statement, intending that such circumstance, false entry or false statement may appear in evidence in a judicial proceeding, or in a proceeding taken by law before a public servant as such, or before an arbitrator, and that such circumstance, false entry or false statement, so appearing in evidence, may cause any person who in such proceeding is to form an opinion upon the evidence, to entertain an erroneous opinion touching any point material to the result of such proceeding is said “to fabricate false evidence”.
Illustrations
(a) A puts jewels into a box belonging to Z, with the intention that they may be found in that box, and that this circumstance may cause Z to be convicted of theft. A has fabricated false evidence.
(b) A makes a false entry in his shop-book for the purpose of using it as corroborative evidence in a Court of Justice. A has fabricated false evidence.
(c) A, with the intention of causing Z to be convicted of a criminal conspiracy, writes a letter in imitation of Z's handwriting, purporting to be addressed to an accomplice in such criminal conspiracy, and puts the letter in a place which he knows that the officers of the police are likely to search. A has fabricated false evidence.

Source: Section 192, Indian Penal Code, 1860

Section 192 IPC in Simple Words

Section 192 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) defines what it is to fabricate false evidence. A person does so by causing a circumstance to exist, by making a false entry in a book, record or electronic record, or by making a document or electronic record that contains a false statement.

The person must intend that it may appear in evidence in a judicial proceeding, or in a proceeding taken by law before a public servant as such, or before an arbitrator, and that it may cause the person forming an opinion on the evidence to hold an erroneous opinion on a point material to the result. The section creates no offence and sets no punishment.

The punishment is in Section 193 IPC.

Ingredients of Section 192 IPC

The accused caused a circumstance to exist, or made a false entry in a book, record or electronic record, or made a document or electronic record containing a false statement
The accused intended that the circumstance, false entry or false statement may appear in evidence in a judicial proceeding, or in a proceeding taken by law before a public servant as such, or before an arbitrator
The accused intended that, so appearing in evidence, it may cause the person forming an opinion upon the evidence in that proceeding to entertain an erroneous opinion touching a point material to the result

Punishment Under Section 192 IPC

Imprisonment

None. Section 192 IPC defines fabricating false evidence and sets no punishment of its own. The punishment is in Section 193 IPC.

Fine

None. Section 192 IPC sets no fine of its own. Section 193 IPC is the punishing section.

Section 192 IPC is a definition. It has no entry in the First Schedule to the CrPC, and the punishment for fabricating false evidence is in Section 193 IPC.

Example of Section 192 IPC

In 2018 in Bhopal, a commercial dispute between Karthik and Devendra was referred to an arbitrator. Before the hearing, Karthik created an electronic record containing a false dispatch log showing that forty crates of machinery parts had been delivered to Devendra on time. Karthik intended for that electronic record to appear in evidence before the arbitrator and to cause the arbitrator to form an erroneous opinion on whether timely delivery had occurred, a point material to the outcome of the arbitration. By creating that false electronic record with that intention, Karthik has fabricated false evidence within Section 192 IPC.

When Section 192 IPC Does Not Apply

Section 192 IPC does not apply when a person alters a private diary or electronic file purely for personal amusement without intending that it appear in evidence before a court, public servant, or arbitrator.
Section 192 IPC does not apply when a false entry in a document relates only to a trivial detail that cannot affect any point material to the result of the proceeding.
Section 192 IPC does not apply when a person makes a clerical mistake in a register by accident and without intending to mislead the authority deciding the proceeding.
Section 192 IPC does not apply when the proceeding in which the false document is meant to be shown is a private club meeting rather than a judicial proceeding, a statutory proceeding before a public servant, or an arbitration.

Section 192 IPC in the BNS

Section 192 IPC is now covered under Section 228 BNS.

Section 192 IPC is now Section 228 BNS, with the same title and the same words, apart from one change in illustration b. The Indian Penal Code speaks of a Court of Justice there, and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 says only a Court. The elements are not changed.

View detailed comparison (IPC 192 vs BNS 228) →

FAQs on Section 192 IPC

What does Section 192 IPC provide?▼

It defines fabricating false evidence. A person does so by causing a circumstance to exist, making a false entry in a book, record or electronic record, or making a document or electronic record containing a false statement, intending that it may appear in evidence and cause an erroneous opinion on a material point.

What is the punishment under Section 192 IPC?▼

None. Section 192 IPC sets no punishment of its own. The punishment for false evidence is in Section 193 IPC.

Under Section 192 IPC, in which proceedings must the evidence be meant to appear?▼

In a judicial proceeding, or in a proceeding taken by law before a public servant as such, or before an arbitrator.

Under Section 192 IPC, what must the accused intend about the opinion formed on the evidence?▼

That the evidence, so appearing, may cause the person forming an opinion upon it in that proceeding to entertain an erroneous opinion touching a point material to the result.

Is bail, arrest or trial decided by Section 192 IPC?▼

No. Section 192 IPC creates no offence and has no entry in the First Schedule to the CrPC. Those questions follow the punishing section, which is Section 193 IPC.

What do the illustrations to Section 192 IPC show?▼

Placing jewels in a box so that they are found there and Z is convicted of theft, making a false entry in a shop-book to use as corroborative evidence in a Court of Justice, and writing a letter in imitation of Z's handwriting and placing it where the police are likely to search. Each is fabricating false evidence.

Where is Section 192 IPC in the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita?▼

In Section 228 BNS. The punishment is in Section 229 BNS.

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Disclaimer: This is for informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified advocate for legal advice.

Sources: Bare Act Text, Indian Penal Code, 1860 · Last updated: 16 Oct 2026 ·