IPC Section 505 - Stateme nts conducing to public mischief

505. Stateme nts conducing to public mischief. 2[(1)] Whoever makes, publishes or circulates

any statement, rumour or report,--

(a) with intent to cause, or which is likely to cause, any officer, soldier, 3[sailor or airman] in the

Army, 4[Navy or Air Force] 5[of India] to mutiny or otherwise disregard or fail in his duty as such; or

(b) with intent to cause, or which is likely to cause, fear or alarm to the public, or to any section

of the public whereby any person may be induced to commit an offence against the State or aga inst

the public tranquility; or

(c) with intent to incite, or which is likely to incite, any class or community of persons to commit

any offence against any other class or community,

shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend to 6[three years], or with fine, or with both.

7[(2) Statements creating or promoting enmity, hatred or ill -will between classes .--Whoever

makes, publishes or circulates any statement or report containing rumour or alarming news with intent to

create or promote, or which is likely to create or promote, on grounds of religion, race, place of birth,

residence, language, caste or community or any other ground whatsoever, feelings of enmity, hatred or ill-

will between different religious, racial, language or regional groups or castes or communities, shall be

punished with imprisonment which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.

(3) Offence under sub -section ( 2) commi tted in place of worship, etc .--Whoever commits an

offence specified in sub -section ( 2) in any place of worship or in any assembly engaged in the

performance of religious worship or religious ceremonies, shall be punished with imprisonment which

may extend to five years and shall also be liable to fine.]

Exception.--It does not amount to an offence, within the meaning of this section, when the person

making, publishing or circulating any such statement, rumour or report, has reasonable grounds for

believing that such statement, rumour or report is true and makes, publishes or circulates it 2[in good faith

and] without any such intent as aforesaid.]