Question

The question consists of legal propositions/ principles (hereinafter referred to as 'principle') and facts. These principles have to be applied to the given facts to arrive at the most reasonable conclusion.

Principle: Whoever, being legally bound to furnish information on any subject to any public servant, as such, furnishes, as true information, on the subject which he knows or has reason to believe to be false, has committed a punishable offense of furnishing false information.

Facts: Sawant, a landholder, knowing of the commission of a murder within the limits of his estate, willfully misinforms the Magistrate of the district that the death has occurred by accident in consequence of the bite of a snake.

Options

• Sawant is not guilty of the offence of furnishing false information to the Magistrate

• Sawant is guilty of the offense of furnishing: false information to the Magistrate

• Sawant is not legally bound to furnish true information to the Magistrate

• Sawant has the discretion to furnish true information to the Magistrate, as the murder was committed within the limits of his estate

Answer 1

Sawant is guilty of the offense of furnishing: false information to the Magistrate

Explanation:

Section 177 of the Indian penal code, deals with the provisions of furnishing false information, according to which, whoever, being legally bound to furnish information on any subject to any public servant, as such, furnishes, as true, information on the subject which he knows or has reason to believe to be false,  shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a  term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both.  
Here, Sawant is guilty of the offense of furnishing false information to the magistrate, because he willfully misinforms the magistrates that the death has occurred by accident in consequence of the bite of a snake.