INDIAN PENAL CODE, 1860
BHARATIYA NYAYA SANHITA, 2023
216. Harbouring offender who has escaped from custody or whose apprehension
253. Harbouring offender who has escaped from custody or whose apprehension has been
changed or removed in old law
changed or added in new law
Similar wording stays plain; only differences are highlighted.
INDIAN PENAL CODE, 1860
Harbouring offender who has escaped from custody or whose apprehension
has been ordered-if a capital offence; if punishable with
imprisonment for life, or with imprisonment.
216. Harbouring offender who has escaped from custody or whose
apprehension has been ordered.--Whenever any person convicted of or
charged with an offence, being in lawful custody for that offence,
escapes from such custody,
or whenever a public servant, in the exercise of the lawful
powers of such public servant, orders a certain person to be
apprehended for an offence, whoever, knowing of such escape or order
for apprehension, harbours or conceals that person with the intention
of preventing him from being apprehended, shall be punished in the
manner following, that is to say,
if a capital offence;
if a capital offence;--if the offence for which the person was in
custody or is ordered to be apprehended is punishable with death, he
shall 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, or with imprisonment.
if punishable with imprisonment for life, or with imprisonment.-
if the offence is punishable with 3*[imprisonment for life] or
imprisonment for ten years, he shall be punished with imprisonment of
either description for a term which may extend to three years, with or
without fine;
and if the offence is punishable with imprisonment which may
extend to one year and not to ten years, he 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 such offence or with fine, or with both.
4*["Offence" in this section includes also any act or omission
of which a person is alleged to have been guilty out of 5*[India],
which, if he had been guilty of it in 5*[India], would have been
punishable as an offence, and for which he is, under any law relating
to extradition, 6*or otherwise liable to be apprehended or detained
in custody in 5*[India], and every such act or omission shall, for
the purposes of this section, be deemed to be punishable as if the
accused person had been guilty of it in 5*[India].]
Exception.-The provision does not extend to the case in which
the harbour or concealment is by the husband or wife of the person to
be apprehended.
Repealed / historical reference India Code — IPC 1860
BHARATIYA NYAYA SANHITA, 2023
253. Harbouring offender who has escaped from custody or whose apprehension has been
ordered.—Whenever any person convicted of or charged with an offence, being in lawful custody for
that offence, escapes from such custody, or whenever a public servant, in the exercise of the lawful
powers of such public servant, orders a certain person to be apprehended for an offence, whoever,
knowing of such escape or order for apprehension, harbours or conceals that person with the intention of
preventing him from being apprehended, shall be punished in the manner following, namely:—
(a) if the offence for which the person was in custody or is ordered to be apprehended is
punishable with death, he shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which
may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine;
(b) if the offence is punishable with imprisonment for life or imprisonment for ten years, he shall
be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, with
or without fine;
(c) if the offence is punishable with imprisonment which may extend to one year and not to ten
years, he 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 such
offence, or with fine, or with both.
Explanation.—“Offence” in this section includes also any act or omission of which a person is
alleged to have been guilty out of India, which, if he had been guilty of it in India, would have been
punishable as an offence, and for which he is, under any law relating to extradition, or otherwise, liable to
be apprehended or detained in custody in India, and every such act or omission shall, for the purposes of
this section, be deemed to be punishable as if the accused person had been guilty of it in India.
Exception.—The provisions of this section do not extend to the case in which the harbour or
concealment is by the spouse of the person to be apprehended.
Current law India Code — BNS 2023