177. Whoever being required by any law for the time being in force or any rule having the force of law to keep accounts of expenses incurred at or in connection with an election fails to keep such accounts shall be punished with fine which may extend to five thousand rupees.
Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
Section 177: Failure to keep election accounts
Chapter IX — Of Offences Relating to Elections
Source: official text of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (Ministry of Home Affairs).