Indian Penal Code, 1860
425. Mischief
Whoever with intent to cause, or knowing that he is likely to
cause, wrongful loss or damage to the public or to any person, causes the
destruction of any property, or any such change in any property or in the
situation thereof as destroys or diminishes its value or utility, or affects it
injuriously, commits "mischief".
Explanation 1- It is not essential to the offence of mischief
that the offender should intend to cause loss or damage to the owner of the
property injured or destroyed. It is sufficient if he intends to cause,
or knows that he is likely to cause, wrongful loss or damage to any person by
injuring any property, whether it belongs to that person or not.
Explanation 2- Mischief may be committed by an act affecting
property belonging to the person who commits the act, or to that person and
others jointly.
Illustrations
(a) A voluntarily bums a valuable security belonging to Z intending
to cause wrongful loss to Z. A has committed mischief.
(b) A introduces water into an ice-house belonging to Z and thus
causes the ice to melt, intending wrongful loss to Z. A has committed mischief.
(c) A voluntarily throws into a river a ring belonging to Z,
with the intention of thereby causing wrongful loss to Z. A has committed
mischief.
(d) A, knowing that his effects are about to be taken in
execution in order to satisfy a debt due from him to Z, destroys those effects,
with the intention of thereby preventing Z from obtaining satisfaction of the
debt, and of thus causing. damage to Z. A has committed mischief.
(e) A, having. insured a ship, voluntarily causes the same to be
cast away, with the intention of causing damage to the under-writers. A has
committed mischief.
(f) A causes a ship to be cast away, intending thereby to cause
damage to Z who has lent money on bottomry on the ship. A has committed
mischief.
(g) A, having joint property with Z in a horse, shoots the
horse, intending thereby to cause wrongful loss to Z. A has committed mischief.
(h) A causes cattle to enter upon a field belonging to Z,
intending to cause and knowing that he is likely to cause damage to Z's crop. A
has committed mischief.