Penalty Info

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CorruptionPossibly — unconfirmed

Possibly — unconfirmed

Reported range, not yet confirmed against official text. Do not rely on this — awaiting confirmation.

Statutory range — reported, not yet confirmed

§ 7 — public servant obtaining / accepting / attempting to obtain an undue advantage to perform a public duty improperly / forbearPossibly — unconfirmed

Imprisonment
3–7 years
Fine
Fine (amount not stated in section)

Minimum 3 years.

§ 7A — taking an undue advantage to influence a public servant (by corrupt / illegal means or personal influence)Possibly — unconfirmed

Imprisonment
3–7 years
Fine
Fine (amount not stated in section)

Minimum 3 years.

§ 8 — bribing a public servant (giving / promising / offering an undue advantage)Possibly — unconfirmed

Imprisonment
0 (no mandatory prison) – 7 years
Fine
Fine (amount not stated in section)

0 = the law sets no minimum prison term. The court is not required to impose prison. Depending on the offence, jurisdiction, and case, it may instead impose a non-custodial sentence — e.g. a suspended sentence, community order / probation, a fine, or a discharge.

Exception: a person compelled to give who reports within 7 days.

§ 9 — bribing a public servant by a commercial organisationPossibly — unconfirmed

Imprisonment
No imprisonment for the organisation (fine only)
Fine
Fine (amount not stated in section)

Adequate-procedures defence available.

§ 10 — person in charge of a commercial organisation (director / manager / secretary / officer) where the organisation commits a § 9 offencePossibly — unconfirmed

Imprisonment
3–7 years
Fine
Fine (amount not stated in section)

§ 11 — public servant obtaining an undue advantage without consideration from a person concerned in business transacted by the servantPossibly — unconfirmed

Imprisonment
6 months–5 years
Fine
Fine (amount not stated in section)

§ 12 — abetment of any offence under the ActPossibly — unconfirmed

Imprisonment
3–7 years
Fine
Fine (amount not stated in section)

Punishable even if the principal offence is not committed.

§ 13 — criminal misconduct by a public servant (fraudulent misappropriation / conversion of entrusted property; intentional illicit enrichment / disproportionate assets)Possibly — unconfirmed

Imprisonment
4–10 years
Fine
Fine (amount not stated in section)

Minimum 4 years.

§ 14 — habitual offender (subsequent offence under §§ 7, 11 or 13)Possibly — unconfirmed

Imprisonment
5–10 years
Fine
Fine (amount not stated in section)

Minimum 5 years.

§ 15 — attempt to commit an offence under § 13Possibly — unconfirmed

Imprisonment
2–5 years
Fine
Fine (amount not stated in section)
Note on this entry

Pre-2018 summaries still circulating online give different section numbers and ranges (e.g. § 13 up to 7 / 14 years) — the post-2018 figures below are used. § 9 (commercial organisation) carries fine only for the organisation; individuals in charge are punished under § 10.

Source

Statute
Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 §§ 7, 7A, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15
Official source
Legal-Veda / Advocate Gandhi summaries of the Prevention of Corruption Act (not India Code)
Verification status
India Code could not be read directly; figures corroborated from two independent post-2018 summaries. Re-check against India Code before treating as VERIFIED.
Last verified
2026-10-19
Not legal advice. This range is the statutory penalty as written in the law — it is not “your sentence.” What is NOT accounted for here: Priors, plea, judicial discretion; departmental proceedings; attachment / forfeiture of property. If you face a real charge, consult a licensed lawyer in the relevant jurisdiction.