238. Whoever, knowing or having reason to believe that an offence has been committed, causes any evidence of the commission of that offence to disappear, with the intention of screening the offender from legal punishment, or with that intention gives any information respecting the offence which he knows or believes to be false shall,-
(a) if the offence which he knows or believes to have been committed is punishable with death, be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine;
(b) if the offence is punishable with imprisonment for life, or with imprisonment which may extend to ten years, be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, and shall also be liable to fine;
(c) if the offence is punishable with imprisonment for any term not extending to ten years, be punished with imprisonment of the description provided for the offence, for a term which may extend to one-fourth part of the longest term of the imprisonment provided for the offence, or with fine, or with both.
Illustration.
A, knowing that B has murdered Z, assists B to hide the body with the
intention of screening B from punishment. A is liable to imprisonment of
either description for seven years, and also to fine.
Section 232 Threatening any person to give false evidence
Section 233 Using evidence known to be false
Section 234 Issuing or signing false certificate
Section 235 Using as true a certificate known to be false
Section 236 False statement made in declaration which is by law receivable as evidence
Section 237 Using as true such declaration knowing it to be false
Section 239 Intentional omission to give information of offence by person bound to inform
Section 240 Giving false information respecting an offence committed