Section 217 of IPC : Section 217: Public servant disobeying direction of law with intent to save person from punishment or property from forfeiture

Explanation using Example

Example 1:

Ravi is a police officer in a small town in India. He is friends with a local businessman, Mr. Sharma, who is under investigation for tax evasion. During the investigation, Ravi receives a legal directive to seize certain documents from Mr. Sharma's office that are crucial for proving the tax evasion. However, Ravi, intending to save Mr. Sharma from legal punishment, deliberately ignores the directive and does not seize the documents. As a result, Mr. Sharma is not prosecuted for tax evasion. Ravi's actions fall under Section 217 of the Indian Penal Code, and he can be punished with imprisonment for up to two years, a fine, or both.

Example 2:

Sita is a customs officer at an Indian port. She is responsible for inspecting shipments and ensuring that no illegal goods are imported. One day, she receives a shipment from her cousin, which contains undeclared luxury items that should be subject to customs duty and possible forfeiture. Knowing that her cousin would face legal consequences and the goods would be confiscated, Sita intentionally skips the inspection of the shipment. By doing so, she saves her cousin from punishment and the goods from forfeiture. Sita's deliberate disobedience of her duty as a public servant makes her liable under Section 217 of the Indian Penal Code, and she could face imprisonment for up to two years, a fine, or both.