Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 · Chapter XVII: Of Offences against Property · Of mischief
Section 327: Mischief with intent to destroy or make unsafe a rail, aircraft, decked vessel or one of twenty tons burden
In plain words
Committing mischief to a rail, an aircraft, a decked vessel or a vessel of twenty tons or more, intending or knowing it is likely to destroy it or make it unsafe, is punishable with up to ten years in prison and a fine.
- If done, or attempted, by fire or explosives: imprisonment for life or up to ten years, and a fine.
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
(1) Whoever commits mischief to any rail, aircraft, or a decked vessel or any vessel of a burden of twenty tons or upwards, intending to destroy or render unsafe, or knowing it to be likely that he will thereby destroy or render unsafe, that rail, aircraft or vessel, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.
(2) Whoever commits, or attempts to commit, by fire or any explosive substance, such mischief as is described in sub-section (1), shall be punished with imprisonment for life or with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.
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 327
No Supreme Court judgment in our database cites this section yet.