Section 251 BNS: Offering gift or restoration of property in consideration of screening offender

Section 251 BNS | BNS 251

Whoever gives or causes, or offers or agrees to give or cause, any gratification to any person, or restores or causes the restoration of any property to any person, in consideration of that person’s concealing an offence, or of his screening any person from legal punishment for any offence, or of his not proceeding against any person for the purpose of bringing him to legal punishment shall,—

251(a) BNS

if the offence 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;

251(b) BNS

if the offence is punishable with imprisonment for life or with imprisonment which may extend to ten years, be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, and shall also be liable to fine;

251(c) BNS

if the offence is punishable with imprisonment not extending to ten years, 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 imprisonment provided for the offence, or with fine, or with both.

Exception— The provisions of this section and section 250 do not extend to any case in which the offence may lawfully be compounded.

READ OTHER SECTIONS OF CHAPTER XIV — OF FALSE EVIDENCE AND OFFENCES AGAINST PUBLIC JUSTICE

FAQs of BNS Section 251

  1. 251 BNS punishment and fine

    Punishment and fine under Section 251 of the BNS—

    251(a): Imprisonment for 7 years and fine.
    251(b): Imprisonment for 3 years and fine.
    251(c): Imprisonment for one-fourth of the longest term, provided for the offence, or fine, or both.

  2. 251 BNS cognizable or not

    The offence under Section 251(a), 251(b) and 251(c) of the BNS is non-cognizable.

  3. 251 BNS bailable or not

    The offence under Section 251(a), 251(b) and 251(c) of the BNS is bailable.

  4. 251 BNS trial court

    Offence specified in Section 251(a), 251(b) and 251(c) of the BNS is triable by the Magistrate of the first class.

Important Points

  • Cognizable Offences: These are offences where a police officer can arrest a person without a warrant.
  • Non-Cognizable Offences: These are offences where a police officer cannot arrest a person without a warrant.
  • Bailable Offences: These are offences where the accused can get bail from the police station itself. All bailable offences are listed in the First Schedule of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).
  • Non-Bailable Offences: Offences in which bail is not granted directly from the police station but after hearing the case in the court, the judge decides when bail will be granted. All non-bailable offences are listed in the first schedule of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).
  • In the above FAQ, “trial court” means the court that has jurisdiction to try the offence.
  • In the above FAQ, the expression “Magistrate of the first class” and “Any Magistrate” does not include Executive Magistrates.

Read other Sections of the BNS

Reference Link: New Criminal Laws (BNS), Ministry of Home Affairs

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