Question

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 offence of furnishing false information.
FACTS: Sawant, a landholder, knowing of the commission of a murder within the limits of his estate, wilfully misinforms the Magistrate of the district that the death has occurred by accident in consequence of the bite of a snake.

• A. Sawant is not guilty of the offence of furnishing false information to the Magistrate
• B. Sawant is guilty of the offence of furnishing false information to the Magistrate
• C. Sawant is not legally bound to furnish true information to the Magistrate
• D. Sawant has the discretion to furnish true information to the Magistrate, as the murder was committed within the limits of his estate

Answer 1

Answer: (B)

Sawant is guilty of the offence of furnishing false information to the Magistrate

The essentials of principle given are 3 fold-

Firstly, that the person in question must know the truth and must be legally bound to furnish the truth to the public servant.

Secondly, that the person must despite knowing the truth furnishes wrong information.

Thirdly, that such false information must be furnished to a public servant.

Sawant is guilty of offence of furnishing false information to the Magistrate. Since he was legally bound to furnish information of commission of Murder to the Magistrate who is a public servant. Knowing the truth he furnished false information.