Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace
What this section does
This section punishes intentional insults that are calculated or known to be likely to provoke the insulted person to breach the public peace or commit another offence. Both the intent to insult and the likelihood of provoking a breach of peace must be present.
AI-generated plain-language summary. For the binding statutory text, see India Code (official).
Quick reference
- Punishment
- Imprisonment of either description up to 2 years, or fine, or both.
- Triable by
- Any Magistrate
- Cognizable
- No
- Bailable
- Yes
- Compoundable
- Yes
Ingredients (what prosecution must prove)
- The accused intentionally insulted another person in any manner
- The insult gave provocation to that person
- The accused intended, or knew it to be likely, that the provocation would cause the person to break the public peace or commit any other offence
- IPC Section 504 — Intentional insult to provoke breach of peace
Read the official text
For the binding statutory text of BNS Section 352, refer to the Gazette of India or the India Code official website.
Why this matters
BNS Section 352 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.