Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 · Chapter XIII: Of Contempts of the Lawful Authority of Public Servants
Section 210: Omission to produce document or electronic record to public servant by person legally bound to produce it
In plain words
Intentionally failing to produce or hand over a document or electronic record to a public servant when legally bound to do so is punishable with simple imprisonment up to one month, or a fine up to five thousand rupees, or both.
- If it is to be produced in a court: up to six months, or a fine up to ten thousand rupees, or both.
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 legally bound to produce or deliver up any document or electronic record to any public servant, as such, intentionally omits so to produce or deliver up the same,—
(a) shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to one month, or with fine which may extend to five thousand rupees, or with both;
(b) and where the document or electronic record is to be produced or delivered up to a Court with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to ten thousand rupees, or with both.
Illustration
A, being legally bound to produce a document before a District Court, intentionally omits to produce the same. A has committed the offence defined in this section.
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.