Whoever fraudulently or dishonestly, or with intent to cause damage or injury to the public or to any person, cancels, destroys or defaces, or attempts to cancel, destroy or deface, or secretes or attempts to secrete any document which is or purports to be a will, or an authority to adopt a son, or any valuable security, or commits mischief in respect of such documents, shall he punished with¹[imprisonment for life], or with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.

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1. Substituted by Act 26 of 1955, section 117 and Schedule, for "transportation for life" (w.e.f. 17-10-2000).