Section 200-214

Sections 200–214 form the BNS's framework for offences committed by and in relation to public servants — a category of criminal conduct that sits at the heart of governance integrity. While the Prevention of Corruption Act (PCA) 1988 is the primary legislation targeting corruption, the BNS provisions address a complementary range of public servant misconduct. Section 200 (taking gratification — bribery) covers a public servant who accepts any consideration beyond their lawful remuneration for performing or refraining from an official act. The acceptance of a bribe — even if no actual favour is delivered — constitutes the offence at the moment of acceptance. Section 202 criminalises bribery from the giver's side — offering or giving a bribe to influence a public servant through corrupt or illegal means. This provision targets private citizens and companies who corrupt the system. Section 206 (disobeying law to cause injury) is the abuse of office provision — a public servant who deliberately violates their legal duties to cause harm to a specific person commits this offence. It covers the corrupt official who selectively enforces regulations against business rivals, the police officer who refuses to register an FIR against someone protected by political connections, and the bureaucrat who deliberately delays permissions to extort money. Section 207 (framing incorrect documents) addresses a particularly damaging form of official corruption — creating false official records, false charge sheets, false court documents, or false regulatory reports. When a public servant manipulates the official record, the harm propagates through every subsequent process that relies on that record.