Section 429 IPC: Mischief by killing or maiming cattle, etc., of any value or any animal of the value of fifty rupees

Indian Penal Code, 1860

Section 429 IPC at a Glance

Section 429 IPC deals with mischief by killing or maiming cattle, etc., of any value or any animal of the value of fifty rupees. It is bailable and cognizable, triable by Magistrate of the first class; from 1 July 2024 it is replaced by Section 325 BNS.

Punishment

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

Bailable ⓘCognizable ⓘCompoundable ⓘ🏛️ Magistrate of the first class ⓘ
BNS Equivalent

Section 325 →

Section 429 IPC Bare Act Text

429. Mischief by killing or maiming cattle, etc., of any value or any animal of the value of fifty rupees

Whoever commits mischief by killing, poisoning, maiming or rendering useless, any elephant, camel, horse, mule, buffalo, bull, cow or ox, whatever may be the value thereof, or any other animal of the value of fifty rupees or upwards, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to five years, or with fine, or with both.

Source: Section 429, Indian Penal Code, 1860

Section 429 IPC in Simple Words

Section 429 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) punishes mischief committed by killing, poisoning, maiming or rendering useless any elephant, camel, horse, mule, buffalo, bull, cow or ox, whatever its value, or any other animal of the value of fifty rupees or upwards. The punishment is imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to five years, or fine, or both.

Under the First Schedule to the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, the offence is cognizable, bailable, and triable by a Magistrate of the first class. The owner of the cattle or animal may compound the offence without the permission of the court under Section 320(1) CrPC.

Ingredients of Section 429 IPC

  • The accused committed mischief as defined in Section 425 IPC
  • The mischief was committed by killing, poisoning, maiming or rendering useless an animal
  • The animal was an elephant, camel, horse, mule, buffalo, bull, cow or ox of any value, or any other animal of the value of fifty rupees or upwards

Punishment Under Section 429 IPC

Imprisonment

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

Fine

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

Bailable ⓘCognizable ⓘCompoundable ⓘ🏛️ Magistrate of the first class ⓘ

Mischief by killing, poisoning, maiming or rendering useless cattle of any value, or any other animal worth fifty rupees or upwards, carries imprisonment of either description up to five years, or fine, or both.

Example of Section 429 IPC

In 2017 in Jodhpur, Mahendra quarrelled with a cart driver named Govind over unpaid freight charges. That night, Mahendra entered Govind's shed and struck the hind leg of Govind's camel with an axe, permanently maiming the camel and rendering it useless for work. Mahendra acted with the intention of causing wrongful loss to Govind by crippling his animal. Because Mahendra committed mischief by maiming a camel, whatever its value, Mahendra is punishable under Section 429 IPC.

When Section 429 IPC Does Not Apply

  • The animal harmed was neither one of the cattle or beasts specified in the provision nor another animal worth fifty rupees or upwards.
  • The act did not kill, poison, maim, or render the animal useless.
  • The person acted without any intention to cause wrongful loss or damage and without knowledge that such loss or damage was likely.

Section 429 IPC in the BNS

Section 429 IPC is now covered under Section 325 BNS.

Section 428 IPC and Section 429 IPC are merged into Section 325 BNS. Section 325 BNS drops the list of named animals and the value of fifty rupees and covers any animal. The punishment of imprisonment of either description for up to five years, or fine, or both, is unchanged.

View detailed comparison (IPC 429 vs BNS 325) →

FAQs on Section 429 IPC

What does Section 429 IPC punish?▼

Section 429 IPC punishes mischief by killing, poisoning, maiming or rendering useless certain named animals of any value, and any other animal worth fifty rupees or upwards.

What is the punishment prescribed under Section 429 IPC?▼

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

Is Section 429 IPC bailable and cognizable?▼

Under the First Schedule to the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, an offence under Section 429 IPC is cognizable and bailable, triable by a Magistrate of the first class.

Can an offence under Section 429 IPC be compounded?▼

Yes. The owner of the cattle or animal may compound it under Section 320(1) CrPC without the permission of the court.

Does the value of an ox or cow matter under Section 429 IPC?▼

No. For an elephant, camel, horse, mule, buffalo, bull, cow or ox, Section 429 IPC applies whatever may be the value of the animal.

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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 ·