IPC Section 494

BNS Section 82— Marrying again during lifetime of husband or wife

Effective for any FIR, charge sheet, or filing on or after 1 July 2024. Matters that arose before that date continue under the IPC.

Creates two tiers of bigamy offences: simple bigamy (marrying while a spouse is alive, rendering the second marriage void) punishable up to 7 years, and aggravated bigamy where the prior marriage is concealed from the second spouse, punishable up to 10 years. Two exceptions apply — a court-declared void prior marriage, and a spouse continually absent and unheard of for seven years (provided the second party is informed of the true facts).

Punishment

Sub-section (1): Imprisonment of either description up to 7 years and fine. Sub-section (2) (with concealment): Imprisonment of either description up to 10 years and fine.

Triable by

Magistrate of First Class

Cognizable

No

Bailable

Yes