Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 · Chapter IV: Powers of Superior Officers of Police and Aid to the Magistrates and the Police
Section 33: Public to give information of certain offences
In plain words
Anyone who knows that certain serious offences under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 have been committed, or are planned, must immediately inform the nearest Magistrate or police officer.
- The offences include murder and culpable homicide, organised crime and terrorism, kidnapping for ransom and trafficking, waging war against India, counterfeiting, rioting, food and drug adulteration, robbery and dacoity, serious mischief and house-breaking.
- Acts committed outside India that would be offences in India are also covered.
A simplified explanation, prepared with AI assistance from the official text below and checked automatically against it for numbers and cross-references. The official text is the law and prevails over this summary. Not legal advice.
Official text
(1) Every person, aware of the commission of, or of the intention of any other person to commit, any offence punishable under any of the following sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, namely:—
(i) sections 103 to 105 (both inclusive);
(ii) sections 111 to 113 (both inclusive);
(iii) sections 140 to 144 (both inclusive);
(iv) sections 147 to 154 (both inclusive) and section 158;
(v) sections 178 to 182 (both inclusive);
(vi) sections 189 and 191;
(vii) sections 274 to 280 (both inclusive);
(viii) section 307;
(ix) sections 309 to 312 (both inclusive);
(x) sub-section (5) of section 316;
(xi) sections 326 to 328 (both inclusive); and
(xii) sections 331 and 332, upon the person so aware, forthwith give information to the nearest Magistrate or police officer of such commission or intention.
(2) For the purposes of this section, the term “offence” includes any act committed at any place out of India which would constitute an offence if committed in India.
Source: India Code (indiacode.gov.in), the consolidated text published by the Legislative Department, Government of India. Text as updated on India Code on 12 September 2026. Words in square brackets [ ] were inserted or substituted by later amending Acts, and *** marks words omitted by an amendment. The amendment footnotes are not reproduced here. Official text on India Code.
Supreme Court judgments citing the section 33
No Supreme Court judgment in our database cites this section yet.