Library/BNS/Section 243
Section 243BailablePenal

Fraudulent removal or concealment of property to prevent its seizure as forfeited or in execution

Full Text

Whoever fraudulently removes, conceals, transfers or delivers to any person any property or any interest therein, intending thereby to prevent that property or interest therein from being taken as a forfeiture or in satisfaction of a fine, under a sentence which has been pronounced, or which he knows to be likely to be pronounced, by a Court or other competent authority, or from being taken in execution of a decree or order which has been made, or which he knows to be likely to be made by a Court in a civil suit, 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 the fraudulent removal, concealment, or transfer of property to prevent its seizure for forfeiture, fine recovery, or execution of a civil decree. Punishable by up to three years of imprisonment, a fine up to five thousand rupees, or both.

Key Legal Elements

  • Fraudulent removal, concealment, transfer, or delivery of property or interest therein
  • Intention to prevent it from being taken as forfeiture or in satisfaction of a fine under a sentence (pronounced or likely to be pronounced)
  • Or to prevent it from execution of a decree or order in a civil suit (made or likely to be made)

Punishment

Up to 3 years imprisonment, fine up to ₹5,000, or both.

Practical Note

To establish liability, it must be proved that there was a decree/order (or likelihood of one) and that the property was moved/concealed with the specific intent to obstruct its seizure. This is a bailable, non-cognizable offence.

हिंदी पाठ

जो कोई अपनी या किसी अन्य व्यक्ति की किसी संपत्ति को या उसमें के किसी हित को इस आशय से कपटपूर्वक हटाएगा, छुपाएगा, अंतरित करेगा या किसी व्यक्ति को सौंपेगा कि तद्द्वारा उस संपत्ति या हित का किसी ऐसे दंडादेश के अधीन, जो न्यायालय या किसी अन्य सक्षम प्राधिकारी द्वारा सुनाया जा चुका हो या जिसका सुनाया जाना वह जानता हो कि संभाव्य है, समपहरण के रूप में या जुर्माने के भुगतान में लिया जाना निवारित किया जाए, या किसी सिविल वाद में न्यायालय द्वारा दी गई किसी डिक्री या आदेश के निष्पादन में लिया जाना निवारित किया जाए, 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।