‘A’ is a peon of a store room filled with wheat. ‘B’ is the owner of t

‘A’ is a peon of a store room filled with wheat. ‘B’ is the owner of the store room. ‘A’ introduces water into the store so that wheat be destroyed. ‘A’ has committed the offence of

Cheating
Trespasses by water
Mischief
Criminal Breach of Trust
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CISF-AC-EXE – 2017
The correct answer is C) Mischief. The act of introducing water into a store room of wheat with the intention to destroy it constitutes causing destruction to property, which falls squarely under the definition of ‘Mischief’ as per Section 425 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
– Mischief involves causing destruction or damage to property, or any change in the property or its situation that diminishes its value or utility, with the intention to cause wrongful loss or damage to the public or any person.
– In this scenario, ‘A’ intentionally causes the destruction of wheat (property) belonging to ‘B’, thereby causing wrongful loss to ‘B’. This precisely fits the definition of mischief.
– Cheating (Section 415 IPC) involves deception.
– Criminal Breach of Trust (Section 405 IPC) involves dishonest misappropriation or conversion of property entrusted to someone. While ‘A’ is a peon and potentially has custody, the offence is destruction, not misappropriation.
– “Trespasses by water” is not a specific recognised offence in the IPC. Criminal trespass (Section 441 IPC) involves unlawful entry into property.