Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 · Chapter XII: Of Offences by or Relating to Public Servants
Section 203: Public servant unlawfully buying or bidding for property
In plain words
A public servant legally barred from buying or bidding for certain property who buys or bids for it, in their own or another's name, jointly or in shares, is punishable with simple imprisonment up to two years, or a fine, or both. Any property bought is confiscated.
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
Whoever, being a public servant, and being legally bound as such public servant, not to purchase or bid for certain property, purchases or bids for that property, either in his own name or in the name of another, or jointly, or in shares with others, shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both; and the property, if purchased, shall be confiscated.
Corresponding sections were matched by comparing the wording of both official texts, and for the IPC and BNS, also against a published correspondence table. Wording, punishments and structure often changed, so read both sections before relying on the match.
Source: India Code (indiacode.gov.in), the consolidated text published by the Legislative Department, Government of India. Text as updated on India Code on 25 August 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 203
No Supreme Court judgment in our database cites this section yet.