Whoever accepts or attempts to obtain, or agrees to accept, any gratification for himself or any other person, or any restitution of property to himself or any other person, in consideration of his concealing an offence or of his screening any person from legal punishment for any offence, or of his not proceeding against any person for the purpose of bringing him to legal punishment shall,––
(a) if the offence is punishable with death, be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine;
(b) if the offence is punishable with imprisonment for life, or with imprisonment which may extend to ten years, be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, and shall also be liable to fine;
(c) if the offence is punishable with imprisonment not extending to ten years, be punished with imprisonment of the description provided for the offence for a term which may extend to one-fourth part of the longest term of imprisonment provided for the offence, or with fine, or with both.
Legal Commentary & Landmark Judgments: Section 250
Section 250 punishes accepting or attempting to obtain any gratification or restoration of property in consideration of concealing an offence, screening an offender, or not proceeding against them.
Distinguish between lawful compounding of compoundable offences under Section 359 BNSS (old Section 320 CrPC) and unlawful hush-money taken to stifle prosecution of heinous, non-compoundable crimes.