Section 225 BNS: Harbouring Offender to Screen from Law

Section 225 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita: Threat of Injury to Induce Person to Refrain from Applying Protection

Official Bare Act Text

Override / Mandate Mens Rea (Intent) Actus Reus (Conduct) Punishment Limitation Monetary

Whoever holds out any threat of injury to any person for the purpose of inducing that person to refrain or desist from making a legal application for protection against any injury to any public servant legally empowered as such to give such protection, or to cause such protection to be given, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine, or with both.

BNSS First Schedule Legal Classification

Procedural Trial, Bail & Arrest Mandate under Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023

Official BNSS Schedule I

Offence / Provision	Statutory Punishment	Bail Status	Cognizance	Trial Jurisdiction	Old IPC Equivalent
Section 225 BNS Threat of Injury to Induce Person to Refrain from Applying Protection	Imprisonment extending to 2 years, or fine, or both.	Bailable	Non-Cognizable	Any Magistrate	Formerly Sec 190 IPC

Statutory classification established under the First Schedule of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023. Governs all FIR registrations, bail hearings, and criminal trial jurisdictions in Indian courts.

Legal Commentary & Landmark Judgments: Section 225

Section 225 punishes holding out any threat of injury to induce any person to refrain from applying for protection to any public servant legally empowered to grant that protection.

Threat of Injury: Intimidating a citizen with threats of violence, social boycott, or property damage.
Specific Purpose: Intended to dissuade or prevent the victim from seeking police protection, judicial relief, or administrative intervention.
Direct Victimisation: Interferes with the constitutional and statutory right to seek state protection.

Key Landmark Precedents:

Zahira Habibulla H. Sheikh v. State of Gujarat (2004) 4 SCC 158: The Supreme Court underscored that threatening victims and witnesses to deter them from seeking state protection or testifying strikes at the core of the rule of law.
Mahender Chawla v. Union of India (2019) 14 SCC 615: Reaffirmed the Witness Protection Scheme and held that intimidation aimed at deterring victims from reporting offences warrants stringent penal punishment.

Courtroom Practice & Strategic Litigation Guidance:

Pair charges under Section 225 with applications for witness protection and bail cancellation under Section 480 BNSS against the accused.

Section 225: Threat of Injury to Induce Person to Refrain from Applying Protection

Section 225 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita: Threat of Injury to Induce Person to Refrain from Applying Protection

BNSS First Schedule Legal Classification

Legal Commentary & Landmark Judgments: Section 225