Whoever, knowing or having reason to believe that an offence has been committed, intentionally omits to give any information respecting that offence which he is legally bound to give, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Punishment-Imprisonment for 6 months, or fine, or both-Non-cognizable-Bailable-Triable by any Magistrate-Non-compoundable.
COMMENTS
Ingredients
Assuming that the prosecution has not positively proved that the death was homicidal yet from the medical evidence it is clear that it was not a natural death and consequently the death should at least be noted as one of suicide. Even in the cause of suicide an offence of abetment punishable under section 306 is inherent. Therefore, even in the case of suicide there is an obligation on the person who knows or has reason to believe that such a suicidal death has occurred, to give information; Bhagwan Swarup v. State of Rajasthan, (1991) Cr LJ 3123 (3133) (SC).
