IPC Section 206
IPC Section 206 – Punishment for causing disappearance of evidence of offence, or giving false information to screen offender
Text of Section 206 (simplified in English):
"Whoever, knowing or having reason to believe that an offence has been committed, causes any evidence of such offence to disappear with intent to screen the offender, or gives any information which he knows to be false, intending thereby to screen the offender, shall be punished with imprisonment up to 3 years, or fine, or both."
Key Elements of Section 206:
Knowledge of the Offence:
The person must know or have reason to believe that an offence has been committed.
Mere suspicion is not enough; there should be awareness or belief of an actual offence.
Actus Reus (The Act):
The section covers two main types of acts:
a) Causing evidence to disappear:
This includes destroying, concealing, altering, or hiding any evidence related to an offence.
Example: Burning a document to hide fraud.
b) Giving false information to protect the offender:
Providing misleading or untrue information to authorities to protect the offender.
Example: Lying to police about the identity of someone who committed the crime.
Mens Rea (Intent):
The intention behind the act must be to screen or protect the offender.
If the act is done without this intention, Section 206 may not apply.
Punishment:
Imprisonment: Up to 3 years.
Fine: May also be imposed.
Or both: Court has discretion.
Illustration / Examples:
Ravi knows his friend stole a mobile phone. He destroys the CCTV footage showing the theft to prevent his friend from getting caught.
→ Punishable under Section 206.
Priya sees a burglary happening and tells police a false story claiming she did not see the thief, to protect the real thief.
→ Punishable under Section 206.
Someone accidentally misplaces a document unrelated to an offence, without intent to hide the offender.
→ Not punishable under Section 206, because there is no intent to screen the offender.
Important Points:
Section 206 is meant to protect the process of law by discouraging people from hiding evidence or misleading authorities.
It is different from obstruction of justice because it specifically requires intent to protect the offender.
The section is often used in criminal investigations when someone tampers with evidence or lies to protect a criminal.
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