Personation
at elections.

Punishment
for bribery.

282 Indian Penal Code. [1860: Act XLV.

(Chapter IXA.—Of Offences relating to Elections)

(b) induces or attempts to induce a candidate or voter to believe
that he or any person in whom he is interested will
become or will be rendered an object of Divine dis-
pleasure or of spiritual censure,

shall be deemed to interfere with the free exercise of the electoral
right of such candidate or voter, within the meaning of sub-section (1),

(3) A declaration of public policy or a promise of public action,
or the mere exercise of a legal right without intent to interfere with
an electoral right, shall not be deemed to be interference within the
meaning of this section.

171D. Whoever at an election applies for a voting paper or votes
in the name of any other person, whether living or dead, or in a
fictitious name, or who having voted once at such election applies at
the same election for a voting paper in his own name, and whoever
abets, procures or attempts to procure the voting by any person in
any such way, commits the offence of personation at an election.

171E. Whoever commits the offence of bribery shall be punished
with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend
to one year, or with fine, or with both:

Provided that bribery by treating shall be punished with fine only,

Explanation.—' Treating' means that form of bribery where the
gratification consists in food, drink, entertainment, or provision.

171F. Whoever commits the offence of undue influence or persona-
tion at an election shall be punished with imprisonment of either
description for a term which may extend to one year or with fine,
or with both.

171G. Whoever with intent to affect the result of an election
makes or publishes any statement purporting to be a statement of fact
which is false and which he either knows or believes to be false or
does not believe to be true, in relation to the personal character or
conduct of any candidate shall be punished with fine.

171HL Whoever without the general or special authority in writing
in of a candidate incurs or authorises expenses on account of the holding
of any public meeting or upon any advertisement, circular or publica-
election. tion, or in any other way whatsoever for the purpose of promoting
or procuring the election of such candidate, shall be punished with
fine which may extend to five hundred rupees :

Provided that if any person having incurred any such expenses not
exceeding the amount of ten rupees without authority obtains within
ten days from the date on which such expenses were incurred the
approval in writing of the candidate, he shall be deemed to have
incurred such expenses with the authority of the candidate.

Punishment
for undue
influence or
personation
at an elec-
tion.

False state-
ment in
connection
with an
election.