Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 · Chapter IX: Of Offences Relating to Elections
Section 173: Punishment for bribery
In plain words
Election bribery is punishable with up to one year in prison, or a fine, or both. Bribery by "treating", meaning giving food, drink, entertainment or provisions, is punishable with a fine only.
A simplified explanation, prepared with AI assistance from the official text below and checked automatically against it for numbers and cross-references. The official text is the law and prevails over this summary. Not legal advice.
Official text
Whoever commits the offence of bribery shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine, or with both:
Provided that bribery by treating shall be punished with fine only.
Explanation.—“Treating” means that form of bribery where the gratification consists in food, drink, entertainment, or provision.
Corresponding sections were matched by comparing the wording of both official texts, and for the IPC and BNS, also against a published correspondence table. Wording, punishments and structure often changed, so read both sections before relying on the match.
Source: India Code (indiacode.gov.in), the consolidated text published by the Legislative Department, Government of India. Text as updated on India Code on 25 August 2026. Words in square brackets [ ] were inserted or substituted by later amending Acts, and *** marks words omitted by an amendment. The amendment footnotes are not reproduced here. Official text on India Code.
Supreme Court judgments citing the section 173
No Supreme Court judgment in our database cites this section yet.