Under section 81 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, a man who by deceit causes a woman who is not…

Section 81 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (formerly s.493 IPC) provides that every man who by deceit causes any woman who is not lawfully married to him to believe that she is lawfully married to him and to cohabit or have sexual intercourse with him in that belief shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.

Imprisonment up to two years, or fine, or both, is the punishment under section 84 (enticing or taking away or detaining a married woman with criminal intent); imprisonment up to seven years and fine is the punishment under section 82(1) (bigamy) and section 83 (fraudulent marriage ceremony); and imprisonment for life is not provided for this offence.