Question

Principle: Whoever with the intent to cause, or knowing that he is likely to cause wrongful loss or damage to the public or to any person, causes the destruction of property, or any such change in any property or in the situation thereof as destroys or diminishes its value or utility, of affects it injuriously, commits mischief.

A lent his laptop to B. When in possession of the laptop, B inserted a pen drive into the laptop. When he did a virus scan, he realised that the pen drive was infected. Since he urgently required a file that was on the laptop, he nevertheless opened the files on the pen drive, in the process infecting the laptop.

Options

• A has committed mischief because he has affected the laptop injuriously

• A has not committed mischief because he did not intend to do so.

• A has not committed mischief because the laptop continued working

• A has not committed mischief because the laptop was in his possession

Answer 1

A has committed mischief because he has affected the laptop injuriously

Explanation:

A possessed the knowledge that his action is likely to cause destruction of the property and therefore he is guilty of mischief. So "A has committed mischief because he has affected the laptop injuriously" is a perfect choice.