500. Punishment for defamation.
Whoever defames another shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
Para I: Punishment—Simple imprisonment for 2 years, or fine, or both—Non- cognizable—Bailable—Triable by Court of Session—Compoundable by the person defamed.
Para II: Punishment—Simple imprisonment for 2 years, or fine, or both—Non- cognizable—Bailable—Triable by Magistrate of the first class—Compoundable by the person defamed with the permission of the court.
COMMENTS
A person cannot be said to have committed an offence under section 500, or 501 or 502 or 504 of the Code merely because some news item or article is published attributing certain utterances to that person;
Laloo Prasad v. State of Bihar, (1997) 2 Crimes 498 (Pat)
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