Whoever, knowing or having reason to believe that an offence has been committed, causes any evidence of the commission of that offence to disappear, with the intention of screening the offender from legal punishment, or with that intention gives any information respecting the offence which he knows or believes to be false,
if a capital offence"-shall, if the offence which he knows or believes to have been committed is punishable with death be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine;
if punishable with imprisonment for life"-and if the offence is punishable with imprisonment for life, or with imprisonment which may extend to ten years, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, and shall also be liable to fine;
if punishable with less than ten years’ imprisonment"-and if the offence is punishable with imprisonment for any term not extending to ten years, shall be punished with imprisonment of the description provided for the offence, for a term which may extend to one-fourth part of the longest term of the imprisonment provided for the offence, or with fine, or with both"
Illustration
A, knowing that B has murdered Z, assists B to hide the body with the intention of screening B from punishment" A is liable to imprisonment of either description for seven years, and also to fine"
201 IPC Causing disappearance of evidence of offence, or giving false information to screen offender
202 IPC Intentional omission to give information of offence by person bound to inform
203 IPC Giving false information respecting an offence committed
204 IPC Destruction of document to prevent its production as evidence
205 IPC False personation for purpose of act or proceeding in suit or prosecution
207 IPC Fraudulent claim to property to prevent its seizure as forfeited or in execution
208 IPC Fraudulently suffering decree for sum not due