A newspaper publishes a false statement that a bank manager has misappropriated customer funds, lowering his reputation in the eyes of the public. Under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, defamation committed under section 356 is punishable with:

Section 356 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, corresponding to sections 499 and 500 of the Indian Penal Code, provides that whoever makes or publishes any imputation concerning any person intending to harm, or knowing or having reason to believe that it will harm, the reputation of that person, is said to defame that person, and is punishable with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both, or with community service. The published imputation lowers the manager's reputation, which is the test stated in the Explanation, and no exception, such as truth for the public good under Exception 1, is established. The longer sentences belong to graver offences such as criminal breach of trust or cheating and do not reflect the modest scale of section 356.