According to section 497 of Indian penal code, Whoever has sexual intercourse with a person who is and whom he knows or has reason to believe to be the wife of another man, without the consent or connivance of that man, such sexual intercourse not amounting to the offence of rape, is guilty of the offence of adultery, and shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to five years, or with fine, or with both. In such case the wife shall not be punishable as an abettor.

IPC 497 in Simple Words

If someone has sexual intercourse with a married woman without her husband's consent, it is considered adultery and can be punished with imprisonment for up to five years, a fine, or both; the wife will not be punished as an abettor in this case.

Section 497 IPC criminalised adultery : it imposed culpability on a man who engages in sexual intercourse with another man's wife. Adultery was punishable with a maximum imprisonment of five years. Women though were exempted from prosecution.