IPC to BNS
IPC Section 201 in BNS: Section 238
Section 201 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (Causing disappearance of evidence of offence, or giving false information to screen offender) corresponds to Section 238 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
Last updated 9 October 2026
IPC 201 and BNS 238 at a glance
| IPC (old) | BNS (new) | |
|---|---|---|
| Section | 201 | 238 |
| Heading | Causing disappearance of evidence of offence, or giving false information to screen offender | Causing disappearance of evidence of offence, or giving false information to screen offender |
| Punishment | Graded by the offence concealed. Capital offence: up to 7 years and fine. Offence punishable with life or up to 10 years: up to 3 years and fine. Lesser offence: up to one-fourth of the longest term for it, or fine, or both. | Graded by the offence concealed. Capital offence: up to 7 years and fine. Offence punishable with life or up to 10 years: up to 3 years and fine. Lesser offence: up to one-fourth of the longest term for it, or fine, or both. |
| Mapping | Direct equivalent | |
What IPC Section 201 covered
Punishes a person who, knowing or having reason to believe that an offence has been committed, causes evidence of it to disappear, or gives false information about it, intending to screen the offender from legal punishment.
What changed in BNS Section 238
The provision is carried over without a substantive change; only the section number is new.
Punishment: IPC 201 compared with BNS 238
The punishment is the same under both codes. Graded by the offence concealed. Capital offence: up to 7 years and fine. Offence punishable with life or up to 10 years: up to 3 years and fine. Lesser offence: up to one-fourth of the longest term for it, or fine, or both.
Which law applies: IPC or BNS?
The BNS applies to offences committed on or after 1 July 2024. An offence committed before that date continues to be investigated, tried and punished under the IPC, because the repeal and savings clause in Section 358 of the BNS preserves liabilities and proceedings under the repealed Code.
Read the full text of both provisions before you cite them. The official bare acts are published on India Code.
IPC 201: common questions
What is the new section for IPC 201?
IPC Section 201 (Causing disappearance of evidence of offence, or giving false information to screen offender) corresponds to Section 238 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS).
What is the punishment under BNS Section 238?
Graded by the offence concealed. Capital offence: up to 7 years and fine. Offence punishable with life or up to 10 years: up to 3 years and fine. Lesser offence: up to one-fourth of the longest term for it, or fine, or both.
Does IPC Section 201 still apply to older cases?
The BNS applies to offences committed on or after 1 July 2024. An offence committed before that date continues to be investigated, tried and punished under the IPC, because the repeal and savings clause in Section 358 of the BNS preserves liabilities and proceedings under the repealed Code.
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Not legal advice. This comparison is a research starting point. A mapped section is not proof that two provisions are identical. Read both bare acts, check commencement and any later amendment, and have a qualified advocate review anything you intend to rely on. Settl is not a law firm.