493. 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.
Indian Penal Code, 1860
Section 493: Cohabitation caused by a man deceitfully inducing a belief of lawful marriage
Repealed. Repealed from 1 July 2024. Use it for offences committed before repeal and other liabilities, investigations or proceedings preserved by BNS section 358; do not use it as the current general penal code.
Chapter XX — Of Offences Relating to Marriage