● Retained in BNS
Section 425 defines mischief -- intentionally or knowingly causing wrongful loss or damage to property. BNS Section 324(1) reproduces the definition, both Explanations and all illustrations unchanged; the punishment now sits in the same combined section, as sub-section (2) onward.
Section 425 IPC defined mischief as causing the destruction of any property, or a change in property or its situation that destroys or diminishes its value or utility or affects it injuriously, with intent to cause or knowledge of likely causing wrongful loss or damage to the public or any person. Two Explanations clarified that loss need not be intended toward the property's owner specifically, and that mischief could be committed even against jointly-owned property.
BNS Section 324(1) reproduces the definition, both Explanations, and all eight illustrations verbatim. The only structural change is that BNS folds the definition into sub-section (1) of a single combined Section 324, with what were separate IPC punishment sections (426-429) now appearing as sub-sections (2) through (6) of the same section.
The definition itself is unchanged; the only change is structural, merging IPC's separate definition and punishment sections into one numbered section with the definition as sub-section (1).
This is a definitional provision; the punishment and its associated defences sit under the companion punishment sub-sections, IPC 426 / BNS 324(2) onward.
Summaries are for general information and are not legal advice. For the authoritative bare-act text, see the official Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and Indian Penal Code, 1860 (full amended text, as it stood before repeal) on India Code, or the Ministry of Home Affairs' new criminal laws page. ← All comparisons