Furnishing false information
What this section does
Punishes a person who, being legally bound to furnish information to a public servant, knowingly or with reason to believe furnishes false information as if it were true. Enhanced punishment applies when the false information relates to commission or prevention of an offence or apprehension of an offender.
AI-generated plain-language summary. For the binding statutory text, see India Code (official).
Quick reference
- Punishment
- (a) Simple imprisonment up to 6 months, or fine up to ₹5,000, or both; (b) where related to commission/prevention of an offence or apprehension of an offender: imprisonment of either description up to 2 years, or fine, or both.
- Triable by
- Any Magistrate
- Cognizable
- No
- Bailable
- Yes
- Compoundable
- No
Ingredients (what prosecution must prove)
- The accused was legally bound to furnish information to a public servant
- The accused furnished information representing it as true
- The accused knew or had reason to believe the information to be false
Practitioner note
The Explanation to this section (also covering s.211) extends the meaning of 'offence' to include acts committed outside India that would be punishable under specified BNS sections if committed in India, and 'offender' is correspondingly extended.
Derived from IPC s.177.
Read the official text
For the binding statutory text of BNS Section 212, refer to the Gazette of India or the India Code official website.
Why this matters
BNS Section 212 forms part of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita which replaced the Indian Penal Code 1860 on 1 July 2024. Any new filing, FIR, charge sheet, or bail application made on or after that date should cite the new section number. References to the old act in legacy documents remain valid for matters that arose before the changeover.