Section 214 IPC: Offering gift or restoration of property in consideration of screening offender
Indian Penal Code, 1860
Section 214 IPC at a Glance
Section 214 IPC deals with offering gift or restoration of property in consideration of screening offender. It is bailable and non-cognizable, triable by Magistrate of the first class; from 1 July 2024 it is replaced by Section 251 BNS.
The term follows the offence screened. If that offence is punishable with death, imprisonment of either description for up to seven years. If punishable with imprisonment for life or up to ten years, imprisonment of either description for up to three years. If punishable with imprisonment not extending to ten years, imprisonment of the description provided for that offence for up to one-fourth of its longest term.
Section 214 IPC Bare Act Text
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 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 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.
Exception.—The provisions of sections 213 and 214 do not extend to any case in which the offence may lawfully be compounded.
Source: Section 214, Indian Penal Code, 1860
Section 214 IPC in Simple Words
Section 214 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) punishes giving, causing, offering, or agreeing to give or cause any gratification, or restoring or causing the restoration of any property, in consideration of concealing an offence, screening any person from legal punishment, or abstaining from proceeding against any person to bring them to justice. If the offence screened is punishable with death, the offender is punishable with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and fine.
If that offence is punishable with imprisonment for life or with imprisonment extending to ten years, the offender is punishable with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, and fine. If the offence is punishable with imprisonment not extending to ten years, the offender is punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one-fourth of the longest term provided for that offence, or fine, or both.
The section does not extend to any case where the offence may lawfully be compounded. The offence is non-cognizable and bailable across all tiers, and is triable by a Magistrate of the first class.
Ingredients of Section 214 IPC
- Giving, causing, offering, or agreeing to give or cause gratification, or restoring or causing the restoration of property
- The transaction was made to any person
- The consideration was that person concealing an offence, screening an offender from legal punishment, or abstaining from proceeding against him
- The offence screened was not one that could lawfully be compounded
Punishment Under Section 214 IPC
The term follows the offence screened. If that offence is punishable with death, imprisonment of either description for up to seven years. If punishable with imprisonment for life or up to ten years, imprisonment of either description for up to three years. If punishable with imprisonment not extending to ten years, imprisonment of the description provided for that offence for up to one-fourth of its longest term.
Where the offence screened is capital or punishable with imprisonment for life or up to ten years, the offender is also liable to fine in addition to imprisonment; for lesser offences, the court may impose fine alone or alongside imprisonment. The section specifies no maximum amount.
Offering gratification or property restoration to screen an offender carries imprisonment for up to seven years and fine if the offence is capital, up to three years and fine if punishable with life or ten years, and up to one-fourth of the maximum term, or fine, or both for lesser offences.
Example of Section 214 IPC
When Section 214 IPC Does Not Apply
- Section 214 IPC does not apply when no gratification is given, caused, offered, or agreed upon, and no property is restored or caused to be restored to anyone.
- Section 214 IPC does not apply if property is returned to its owner unconditionally without any bargain to hide a crime, shield an offender, or abstain from prosecution.
- Section 214 IPC does not apply where the gratification or restoration of property is unrelated to concealing an offence, screening a person from legal punishment, or refraining from legal proceedings.
- Section 214 IPC does not apply when the underlying offence is one that the law permits to be compounded.
Section 214 IPC in the BNS
Section 214 IPC is now covered under Section 251 BNS.
Section 214 IPC is now Section 251 BNS. The provision is reorganised into clause a, clause b and clause c, and the old subheadings are omitted. The Exception now refers to Sections 250 and 251 BNS instead of Sections 213 and 214 IPC. The penalty tiers and sentencing limits remain unchanged.
View detailed comparison (IPC 214 vs BNS 251) →FAQs on Section 214 IPC
What conduct does Section 214 IPC penalise?▼
It punishes giving, causing, offering, or agreeing to give gratification, or restoring property, in consideration of concealing an offence, screening an offender from punishment, or not proceeding against an offender.
Under Section 214 IPC, what is the sentence if the offence screened is punishable with death?▼
Imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and liability to fine.
Under Section 214 IPC, what is the sentence if the offence screened is punishable with life imprisonment or imprisonment for up to ten years?▼
Imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, and liability to fine.
Under Section 214 IPC, what is the sentence for screening offences punishable with imprisonment for less than ten years?▼
Imprisonment of the description provided for the offence for up to one-fourth part of the longest term provided for that offence, or fine, or both.
Does Section 214 IPC apply where the underlying offence can be compounded?▼
No. The Exception explicitly provides that the section does not extend to any case in which the underlying offence may lawfully be compounded.
Is an offence under Section 214 IPC cognizable or non-cognizable?▼
It is non-cognizable throughout all three penalty tiers.
Is an offence under Section 214 IPC bailable?▼
It is bailable throughout all three penalty tiers.
Which court is competent to try an offence under Section 214 IPC?▼
A Magistrate of the first class.
Can an offence under Section 214 IPC itself be compounded?▼
No. Section 214 IPC is not compoundable under Section 320 CrPC, even though it exempts settlements of compoundable underlying offences.
Where is Section 214 IPC found in the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita?▼
In Section 251 BNS.
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Sources: Bare Act Text, Indian Penal Code, 1860 · Last updated: 16 Oct 2026 ·