Under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, the essential ingredients of the offence of mischief are:

Section 324(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (formerly section 425 IPC) defines mischief as causing the destruction of any property, or any such change in any property or in its situation as destroys or diminishes its value or utility or affects it injuriously, with intent to cause, or knowing that one is likely to cause, wrongful loss or damage to the public or to any person. That is the option beginning "Causing destruction of, or such change in, any property". An intention merely to destroy property or change its nature, without that intent or knowledge of wrongful loss or damage, is not enough, and under the Explanations the offender need not intend loss to the owner and may even commit mischief on his own property.