Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
BNS Section 176
Illegal payments in connection with an election
In one line
BNS Section 176 deals with illegal payments in connection with an election and replaces IPC 171H.
Punishment, bail and court
| Section | Offence | Punishment | Cognizable | Bailable | Triable by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 176 | Illegal payments in connection with elections. | Fine of 10,000 rupees. | Non-cognizable. | Bailable. | Magistrate of the first class. |
Source: First Schedule to the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023. The punishment column is the Schedule’s summary; the section text below is what prescribes the punishment. Classification decides procedure (arrest, bail as of right, which court), not the result of any particular case.
Bare act text — BNS 176
176. Illegal payments in connection with an election.
Whoever without the general or special authority in writing of a candidate incurs or authorises expenses on account of the holding of any public meeting, or upon any advertisement, circular or publication, or in any other way whatsoever for the purpose of promoting or procuring the election of such candidate, shall be punished with fine which may extend to ten thousand rupees: Provided that if any person having incurred any such expenses not exceeding the amount of ten rupees without authority obtains within ten days from the date on which such expenses were incurred the approval in writing of the candidate, he shall be deemed to have incurred such expenses with the authority of the candidate.
What changed from the IPC
- IPC 171H → BNS 176: Upper limit of fine is increased from five hundred to ten thousand rupees.
Frequently asked
What was BNS Section 176 in the IPC?
BNS Section 176 (Illegal payments in connection with an election) replaces Section 171H of the Indian Penal Code, 1860. IPC 171H is now BNS 176.
What is the punishment under BNS 176?
Illegal payments in connection with elections – punishable with fine which may extend to ten thousand rupees. Under the First Schedule to the BNSS, 2023 it is non-cognizable and bailable, triable by magistrate of the first class.
Is BNS 176 bailable?
Bailable: BNS 176. Bail in a non-bailable offence is at the court's discretion; the classification decides procedure, not the outcome of a particular bail application.
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Nearby BNS sections
- BNS 171 — Undue influence at elections
- BNS 172 — Personation at elections
- BNS 173 — Punishment for bribery
- BNS 174 — Punishment for undue influence or personation at an election
- BNS 175 — False statement in connection with an election
- BNS 177 — Failure to keep election accounts
- BNS 178 — Counterfeiting coin, Government stamps, currency-notes or bank-notes
- BNS 179 — Using as genuine, forged or counterfeit coin, Government stamp, currency-notes or bank- notes
- BNS 180 — Possession of forged or counterfeit coin, Government stamp, currency-notes or bank- notes
- BNS 181 — Making or possessing instruments or materials for forging or counterfeiting coin, Government stamp, currency-notes or bank-notes