Causing death is "culpable homicide" when it's done with the intention of causing death or an injury likely to cause death, or with knowledge that the act is likely to cause death — but without the extra ingredients that would make it murder.
This is the broader category; murder (Section 101) is a specific, more serious subset of it. Every murder is culpable homicide, but not every culpable homicide is murder.
- The dividing line from murder usually comes down to intention, provocation, and circumstances — which is why the same death can be charged differently depending on the facts.
If someone dies because of another person's act, the exact charge (culpable homicide vs. murder) depends heavily on intent and circumstance — it isn't automatic.
Keep exploring
Murder
The most serious homicide charge — what separates it from lesser charges is the degree of intention and dangerousness involved, which is a matter courts scrutinise closely.
Attempt to Murder
You don't need someone to actually die for a murder-level charge to apply — a genuine, dangerous attempt is itself a serious standalone offence.
This is a plain-English summary, not verbatim statutory text. Adhikar is an independent citizen-awareness platform, not a Government of India website. Always verify against the bare Act (legislative.gov.in) or a qualified advocate before relying on this for an actual legal situation.