Destruction of document or electronic record to prevent its production as evidence
Full Text
Whoever secretes or destroys any document or electronic record which he may be lawfully compelled to produce as evidence in a Court or in any proceeding lawfully held before a public servant, as such, or obliterates or renders illegible the whole or any part of such document or electronic record with the intention of preventing the same from being produced or used as evidence before such Court or public servant as aforesaid, or after he shall have been lawfully summoned or required to produce the same for that purpose, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine which may extend to five thousand rupees, or with both.
Plain English Summary
Penalizes secreting, destroying, obliterating, or rendering illegible any document or electronic record to prevent its use as evidence in court or before a public servant. Punishable by up to three years of imprisonment, a fine up to five thousand rupees, or both.
Key Legal Elements
- Secreting, destroying, obliterating, or rendering illegible a document or electronic record
- The document or record is one which the person could be lawfully compelled to produce as evidence
- Intention to prevent it from being produced or used as evidence before a Court or public servant
Punishment
Up to 3 years imprisonment, fine up to ₹5,000, or both.
Practical Note
Applicable to both physical documents and digital evidence (electronic records). Intent to prevent production in a legal proceeding is a key ingredient. This is a bailable, non-cognizable offence triable by a Magistrate of the First Class.
हिंदी पाठ
जो कोई किसी ऐसे दस्तावेज़ या इलेक्ट्रॉनिक अभिलेख को, जिसे वह किसी न्यायालय में या लोक सेवक के समक्ष कानूनन साक्ष्य के रूप में पेश करने के लिए बाध्य किया जा सकता हो, इस आशय से छुपाएगा या नष्ट करेगा कि उसे उस न्यायालय या लोक सेवक के समक्ष साक्ष्य के रूप में पेश किए जाने या उपयोग किए जाने से निवारित किया जाए, या उसके द्वारा उस प्रयोजन के लिए कानूनन समन या मांग किए जाने के पश्चात, ऐसे दस्तावेज़ या इलेक्ट्रॉनिक अभिलेख के पूरे या किसी भाग को मिटाएगा या अपठनीय बनाएगा, वह दोनों में से किसी भांति के कारावास से, जिसकी अवधि तीन वर्ष तक की हो सकेगी, या जुर्माने से, जो पांच हजार रुपए तक का हो सकेगा, या दोनों से, दंडित किया जाएगा।