Section 427 IPC: Mischief causing damage to the amount of fifty rupees

Indian Penal Code, 1860

Section 427 IPC at a Glance

Section 427 IPC deals with mischief causing damage to the amount of fifty rupees. It is bailable and non-cognizable, triable by any Magistrate; from 1 July 2024 it is replaced by Section 324(4) BNS.

Punishment

Imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years.

Bailable ⓘNon-Cognizable ⓘCompoundable ⓘ🏛️ Any Magistrate ⓘ
BNS Equivalent

Section 324(4) →

Section 427 IPC Bare Act Text

427. Mischief causing damage to the amount of fifty rupees

Whoever commits mischief and thereby causes loss or damage to the amount of fifty rupees or upwards, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.

Source: Section 427, Indian Penal Code, 1860

Section 427 IPC in Simple Words

Section 427 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) punishes mischief by which the offender causes loss or damage to the amount of fifty rupees or upwards. The punishment is imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or fine, or both.

Under the First Schedule to the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, the offence is non-cognizable, bailable, and triable by any Magistrate. The offence is compoundable under Section 320(1) CrPC by the person to whom the loss or damage is caused, where the only loss or damage is to a private person.

Ingredients of Section 427 IPC

  • The accused committed mischief as defined in Section 425 IPC
  • The mischief caused loss or damage to the amount of fifty rupees or upwards

Punishment Under Section 427 IPC

Imprisonment

Imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years.

Fine

The court may impose fine alone, or fine in addition to imprisonment.

Bailable ⓘNon-Cognizable ⓘCompoundable ⓘ🏛️ Any Magistrate ⓘ

Mischief causing loss or damage of fifty rupees or upwards carries imprisonment of either description up to two years, or fine, or both.

Example of Section 427 IPC

In 2018 in Mysuru, Naveen quarrelled with a weaver named Harish over the late delivery of a shawl. That evening, Naveen struck Harish's wooden handloom with an iron rod and snapped its beam and frame. Repairing the broken handloom cost Harish four thousand rupees. Naveen acted with the intention of causing wrongful loss to Harish by damaging the handloom and destroying its utility. Because the mischief caused loss or damage amounting to fifty rupees or upwards, Naveen is punishable under Section 427 IPC.

When Section 427 IPC Does Not Apply

  • The mischief resulted in loss or damage of less than fifty rupees, so it falls only under Section 426 IPC.
  • No property was destroyed or changed in a manner that reduced its value or utility or affected it injuriously.
  • The person who caused the damage had neither the intent to cause wrongful loss or damage nor knowledge that such loss or damage was likely.

Section 427 IPC in the BNS

Section 427 IPC is now covered under Section 324(4) BNS.

Section 427 IPC corresponds to Section 324(4) BNS. Section 427 IPC applied the two-year maximum to any loss or damage of fifty rupees or upwards. Section 324(4) BNS keeps the two-year maximum but confines it to loss or damage of twenty thousand rupees and more but less than one lakh rupees. Mischief causing loss or damage of one lakh rupees or upwards carries imprisonment of up to five years under Section 324(5) BNS. Section 324(3) BNS is new and punishes mischief causing loss or damage to any property, including the property of Government or Local Authority, with imprisonment of up to one year, or fine, or both.

View detailed comparison (IPC 427 vs BNS 324(4)) →

FAQs on Section 427 IPC

What does Section 427 IPC punish?▼

Section 427 IPC punishes mischief that causes loss or damage to the amount of fifty rupees or upwards.

What is the punishment prescribed under Section 427 IPC?▼

The prescribed punishment is imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.

Is Section 427 IPC bailable and cognizable?▼

Under the First Schedule to the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, an offence under Section 427 IPC is non-cognizable and bailable, triable by any Magistrate.

Can an offence under Section 427 IPC be compounded?▼

The person to whom the loss or damage is caused may compound it without the permission of the court under Section 320(1) CrPC, but only where the only loss or damage caused is loss or damage to a private person.

Under Section 427 IPC, what if the damage is less than fifty rupees?▼

Mischief causing loss or damage of less than fifty rupees is punishable under Section 426 IPC, with imprisonment of up to three months, or fine, or both.

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