Section 216 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023
Section 216 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, pertains to the offense of harboring an offender. This provision criminalizes the act of knowingly providing shelter or assistance to someone who has committed a serious offense, thereby shielding them from law enforcement.
📜 Text of Section 216
Section 216: Whoever, knowing or having reason to believe that any person has committed a serious offense, harbors or conceals that person, or assists them in evading apprehension, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, and shall also be liable to fine.
⚖️ Key Elements
Offense Description: Harboring or concealing a person who has committed a serious offense.
Knowledge or Belief: The individual must know, or have reason to believe, that the person has committed a serious offense.
Punishment: Imprisonment for up to three years and a fine.
🧾 Purpose and Rationale
This provision aims to prevent individuals from obstructing justice by providing refuge to offenders. By penalizing the act of harboring criminals, it seeks to ensure that individuals who have committed serious offenses are brought to justice, thereby upholding the rule of law and maintaining public trust in the legal system.
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