251. Whoever gives or causes, or offers or agrees to give or cause, any gratification to any person, or restores or causes the restoration of any property to any person, in consideration of that person’s concealing an offence, or of his screening any person from legal punishment for any offence, or of his not proceeding against any person for the purpose of bringing him to legal punishment shall,-
(a) if the offence 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 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
imprisonment provided for the offence, or with fine, or with both.
Exception.- The provisions of this section and section 250 do not extend to any case in which the offence may lawfully be compounded.
Section 251 Offering gift or restoration of property in consideration of screening offender
Section 252 Taking gift to help to recover stolen property, etc
Section 253 Harbouring offender who has escaped from custody or whose apprehension has been ordered
Section 254 Penalty for harbouring robbers or dacoits
Section 257 Public servant in judicial proceeding corruptly making report, etc., contrary to law
Section 259 Intentional omission to apprehend on part of public servant bound to apprehend