385. Putting person  in fear of injury in order to commit extortion.-  Whoever, in order to the committing of extortion, puts any  person  in  fear, or  attempts to put any person in fear, of any injury, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.

CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE

            Punishment-Imprisonment for 2 years ,or fine, or both-Cognizable –Bailable-Triable by  Magistrate  –Non-compoundable.

 

386. Extortion by putting a person in fear of death or grievous hurt to.- Whoever commits extortion by putting any person in fear of death or of grievous hurt to that person or to any other , shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a tem which may extend to ten years, and shall also liable to fine.

CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE

            Punishment-Imprisonment for 10 years and fine-Cognizable –Non-bailable-Triable by  Magistrate  of the first class–Non-compoundable.

 

387. Putting person in fear of dearth or of grievous hurt, in order to commit extortion.- Whoever, in order to the committing of extortion, puts or attempts to put any punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.

CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE

            Punishment-Imprisonment for 7 years and fine-Cognizable –Non-bailable-Triable by  Magistrate  of the first class–Non-compoundable.

 

388. Extortion by threat  of accusation of an offence punishable with death or imprisonment  for life, etc.-Whoever commits extortion by putting any person  or any other ,or having committed or attempted to commit any offence punished with death, or  with 1[imprisonment for life], or with imprisonment  for a term which may extend to ten years, shall be punished with also be liable to fine; and , if  the offence be punishable under section 377 of his Code, may be punished with 1[imprisonment for life].

CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE

            Punishment-Imprisonment for 10 years and fine-Cognizable –Non-bailable-Triable by  Magistrate  of the first class–Non-compoundable.

 

389. Putting person in fear of accusation of offence, in order to commit extortion,- Whoever, in order to committing of exertion, puts or attempts to put any person in fear of an accusation, against that person or any other , of having committed, or attempted to commit an offence punishable with death or with 1[imprisonment of relief], or with imprisonment of e a term which ,ay extend to ten years, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend  to ten years , shall be punished with  imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fined; and , if the offence be punished under section 377 of this Code, may be punished with 1[imprisonment of relief].

CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE

            Para I :Punishment-Imprisonment for 10 years and fine-Cognizable –Non-bailable-Triable by  Magistrate  of the first class–Non-compoundable.

Para II: Punishment-Imprisonment for life -Cognizable –Bailable-Triable by  Magistrate  of the first class–Non-compoundable.

Of Robbery and Dacoity

 

390. Robbery. –In all robbery there is either theft or extortion.

            When theft is robbery.- Theft is “ robbery” if , in order to the committing if the theft ,or in committing the theft, or in carving away or  attempting to  carry away property obtained by the theft, the offender, for that end , voluntarily causes or attempts to cause to any person death or hurt or wrongful restraint , or fear of instant death or of instant hurt, or of instant wrongful restraint death or of instant hurt, or of instant wrongful restraint.

_________________________________________

  1. Subs. by Act 26 of 1955, sec.117 and Sch., for “transportation for life” (w.e.f.1-1-1956).

 

When extortion is robbery.- Extortion is “robbery” if the offender, at the time of committing the extortion, if in the presence of the person but in fear, and commits the extortion by putting that person in fear of instant death, of instant  hurt, or of instant wrongful restraint  to that person or to some other person, and, by so putting in fear includes  the person so put in fear then and there to deliver up the  thing  extirpated.

            Explanation.- The offender is said  to be present of he is sufficiently near  to put  the other person in fear of instant death, of instant hurt ,or of instant wrongful restraint.

                                                            Illustrations

(a)        A holds Z down and fraudulently takes Z’s money and jewels from Z’s clothes without Z’s consent. Here A has committed theft, and in order to the committing of that theft, has voluntarily caused wrongful restraint  to Z. A  has therefore committed  robbery.

(b)        A meets Z on the high roads, shows a pistol, and demands Z’s purse. A in consequence, surrenders his purse. Here A has extorted the  purse from Z by putting him in fear of instant hurt, and purse from Z, y causing Z to be in fear of instant hurt to the child who is there present. A has  therefore committed  robbery on Z.

(c)        A meets Z and Z’s  child on the high road. A  takes the child and threatens to fling it down a precipice , unless Z delivers  his purse. Z in consequence  delivers his purse .Here A has extorted the purse from Z, by causing  Z to be  in fear of instant hurt to the child who is there present. A has  therefore committed robbery on Z.

(d)        A obtains property from Z by saying- “ Your child is in the hands of may gang, and will be put to death unless you send us ten thousand rupees”. This is extortion , and  punishable as such; but it is not  robbery , unless  Z is put in fear of the  instant  death of his child.

                                                COMMENTS

            In order that  theft may constitute robbery, prosecution has to establish-

if in order to the committing of thief ; or

in committing  the theft, or

in carrying away or attempting to carry away property obtained by theft;

the offender for that end i.e. any of the ends contemplated by (a) to (c).

voluntarily causes or attempts to cause to any person  death or hurt or wrongful restraint or  fear of instant wrongful restraint

In other words, theft would only be robbery if for any of the end s mentioned in (a) to (c) the offender voluntarily causes or attempts to causes to any person death or hurt or wrongful restraint or fear of instant death or of instant wrongful restraint. If the ends does not fall within (a)  or(c) but, the offender still causes or attempts to cause to any person death or  hurt or wrongful restraint or fear of instant death or of instant hurt or instant  hurt or instant wrongful restrainst, the offence would not be robbery. That  (a) or (b) or (c) have to be read conjunctively with  (d) and (e). It is only when (a) or (b) or (c) co-exist with  (d) and  (e) or there is  a nexus between ay of them and (d), (e) would amount to robbery; State of Maharashtra  v. Joseph Mingel Koli , (1997) 2 Crimes 228 (Bom).

 

391. Decoity.- When five or more person conjointly commit or attempt to commit a robbery, or  where the whole number of persons conjointly committing or attempting to  commit a robbery, and persons present and aiding such commission or attempting to commit a robbery, and  persons present and aiding such commission or  attempt, amount to five or ,more,  every person so committing, attempting or aiding, is said to commit “dacoity”.

                                                COMMENTS

            When robbery is either committed  to an attempt to  commit it is made by five or more persons  then all such, who are present or  aiding in its commission or in an attempt to commit it, would commit the offence of dacoity; State of Maharashtra v. Josheph Mingel Koli ,(1997) 2 Crime 228  (Bom).

 

392.Punishment for robbery.-  Whoever commits robbery shall be punished with rigorous   imprisonment for  a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable  to fine; and, if the robbery be committed  on the highway between sunset and sunrise, the imprisonment may be extended to fourteen years.

CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE

Para I :Punishment-Rigorous imprisonment for 10 years and fine-Cognizable –Non-bailable-Triable by  Magistrate  of the first class–Non-compoundable.

Para II: Punishment- Rigorous imprisonment for 14 years, and fine -Cognizable –Non-bailable-Triable by  Magistrate  of the first class–Non-compoundable.

 

393. Attempt to commit robbery.- Whoever attempts to commit robbery shall be punished  with rigorous  imprisonment  for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine..

CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE

Punishment-Rigorous imprisonment for 7 years and fine-Cognizable –Non-bailable-Triable by  Magistrate  of the first class–Non-compoundable.

 

394. voluntarily causing  hurt in committing robbery.- If any  person, in  committing or in attempting to committing  robbery, voluntarily cause hurt , such person, and any other  person jointly concerned in committing  or attempting  to commit such robbery,  shall be punished  with 1[imprisonment for life], or  with rigorous imprisonment  for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall be liable to fine.

CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE

Punishment- Imprisonment for life, or  rigorous imprisonment for 10 years and fine- Cognizable- Non-baiable-Triable by Magistrate of the first class-Non-compoundable.

COMMENTS

(i)         Not only the person who actually cause hurt by  but an associate of his/ her would  equally be liable  for the mischief contemplated by this section; Shravan Dashrath Darange v. State of Maharashtra, (1997) 2 Crime  47  (Bom).

(ii)        When it is  proved  that assault  was made with motive to successfully rob the  persons the  conviction under section 304 IPC against both person; Rajjo v. State, 1999 Cr LJ 2996 (All).

 

395. Punishment for dacoity.- Whoever commits dacotiy shall be punished  with 1[imprisonment   for life], or with rigorous imprisonment  for a term which  may extend to ten years, and shall  also be fine.

CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE

Punishment- Imprisonment for life, or  rigorous imprisonment for 10 years and fine- Cognizable- Non-baiable-Triable by Court  of Session -Non-compoundable.

 

  1. Subs. by Act 26 of 1955 , sec.117 and Sch., for “transportation for life”(w.e.f.1-1-1956).

 

                                                COMMENTS

Where the presence of informant  and other witnesses at the time and place of incident was established and their positive evidence regarding the way in which the dacoity  was committed found reliable having no preivous enmity with accused, no case of false implication established  therefore, conviction  of accused under section 395 was just and proper; Chhedu v. State of Uttar Pradesh, 2000 Cr LJ 78 (All).

 

396. Dacoity  with murder.- If any one of five or more persons, who are  conjointly  committing dacoity, commits murder in so committing dacoity, every one of those persons shall be punished with death, or  1[imprisonment  for life], or  rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall be also be liable to fine.

CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE

Punishment- Death, imprisonment for life, or  rigorous imprisonment for 10 years and fine- Cognizable- Non-baiable-Triable by Court of Session -Non-compoundable.

COMMENTS

(i)         when prosecution failed to establish any nexus between death and commission of  dacoity charge under section 396 will fail; Wakil Singh v.State ofBihar, (1981) BLJ 462.

(ii)        When the presence of accused  persons  recoveries of different items of an incriminating  nature  from each of them are sufficient  to establish that all of them conjointly participated in the  offence of dacity with murder, therefore their conviction  under section 396 is liable to be  confirmed; K.M.librahim alias Bava v. State of Karnataka, 2000 Cr LJ 197 (Karn).

(iii)       On considering special  facts of the case. i.e. the  age of accused and their status in life as also their antecedents, Sentence of 10 years R.I in place of sentence of life imprisonment would meet the ends of justice; K.M. Ibrahim alias Bava v. State Lakshimsher Das. 1999 Cr LJ 197 (Karn)

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  1. Subs. by Act 26 of 1955 , sec.117 and Sch., for “transportation for life”(w.e.f.1-1-1956).

 

(iv)       In circumstatial   evidences utter importance is of linking of chain, as  soon as th chain of link is broken the value of circumstantial evidence gets reduced; State  v. Lakshmisher Das, 1999 Cr LJ 2893 (Karn).

(v)        When it is  evidentially proved that accused were participating in loot and murder during transaction of offence, each of them is liable to be punished under punish ability vide  section 396 IPC; Kunwar Lal v. State of Madhya Pradesh, 199 Cr LJ 3632 (MP).

 

397. Robbery, or dacoity , with attempt to cause death or grievous hurt.- If ,a t  the  time of  committing robbery or dacoity, the  offender uses any deadly weapon, or the time of committing robbery or dacoity, the offender uses any deadly weapon, or  cause grievous hurt to any person, or attempts to cause death or grievous hurt to any person, the imprisonment with which such offender shall be punishable shall not be less than seven years.

CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE

            Punishment-Rigorous imprisonment for not less than 7 years -Cognizable –Non-bailable-Triable by  Magistrate  of the first class–Non-compoundable.

COMMENTS

(i)         An act would only fall within  the mischief of  this section if at the time of committing robbery or dacoity the offender-

uses  any deadly weapon; or

causes grievous  hurt to any  person; or

attempts to cause death or grievous  hurt to any person; Shravan Dashrath  Dartange v. State of Maharashtra, (1997)2 Crimes 47 (Bom).

(ii)        There can be no  quarrel that knife is a deadly weapon within the meaning of section 397; State of Maharashtra v. Vinayak Tukaram Utekar, (1997) 2 Crimes 615 (Bom).

(iii)       When identification of articles alleged to have been recovered from accused is not properly  proved nor victim could identify accused in identification  parade or in court accused  cannot be convicted under section 397; Bhurekhan v.State of Madhya Pradesh , AIR 1982 SC 984: (1982) CR LJ 818: (1982) SCC (Cr) 128.

 

398. Attempt to commit robbery or dacoity when  armed with deadly weapon.- If , at the time of attempting to commit robbery or dacoity , the offender is armed with any deadly weapon, the imprisonment with which such offender  shall be punished shall not be less than seven years.

 

399. Making preparation to commit dacoits.- Whoever makes , any preparation for committing dacoity, shall be punished with  rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend  to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.

.                                   CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE

            Punishment-Rigorous imprisonment for 10 years and fine -Cognizable –Non-bailable-Triable by  Court  of Session –Non-compoundable

 

400. Punishment for belonging to gang of dacoits .- Whoever, at any time after the passing of this Act, shall belong to a gang of persons  associated for the purpose of  habitually committing dacoity , shall be punished with  1[imprisonment for life], or with rigorous  imprisonment for a term which may extend to ten years ,  and shall also be liable to fine.

                                    CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE

            Punishment- Imprisonment for life, or 10 years and fine -Cognizable –Non-bailable-Triable by  Court  of Session –Non-compoundable.

 

401. Punishment for belonging to gang of  thieves.- Whoever, at any time after the passing of this Act, shall be one of five or more persons assembled for the purpose of committing dacoity ,shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment for a  tem which may extend to  seven  years ,and  shall also be liable to fine.

CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE

            Punishment-Rigorous imprisonment for 7Years and fine -Cognizable –Non-bailable-Triable by Magistrate of  the first class –Non-compoundable.

 

402. Assembling  for  purpose of committing dacoity.- Whoever, at any time after the passing of this Act, shall be one of five or more persons assembled  or the purpose of committing dacoity , shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment  for a term which may extend to seven years , and shall also be liable to fine.

CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE

            Punishment-Rigorous imprisonment for7 years and fine -Cognizable –Non-bailable-Triable by  Court  of Session –Non-compoundable

 

403. Dishonest misappropriation of property.- Whoever dishonesty misappropriates or converts to his  own use any movable property, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or  with fine, or with both.

Illustrations

(a)        A takes property  belonging to Z out of Z‘s   possession , in good faith, believing, at any time when he takes it, that the property belongs to himself . A is not guilty of  theft; but if A, after discovering his mistake , dishonestly appropriates the property to his own use, he is guilty of an offence under this section.

(b)        A, being on friendly Z’s absence, and  takes away a book without Z’s express  consent. Here, if A was under  the impression that he  had Z’s implied consent  to  take for the purpose of reading it, A has not  committed theft , if A after wards sells the book fir his own benefit, he  is guilty of an offence under this section.

(c)        A and B, being joint owners of a horse, A takes the horse out of B’s possession, intending to use it. Here , as A has  a right to use the horse, he is guilty of an offence under this section.

 

            Explanation I.- A dishonest misappropriation for a time only is a misappropriation with the meaning of this section.

Illustration

            A finds a Government promissory note belonging to Z, bearing a blank endorsement. A, knowing that the note belongs to Z, pledges it with a banker as a security for a loan,  intending at a future time to restore it to Z. A has committed an offence under this section.

            Explanation 2.- A person who finds property not in  the possession of any other person, and takes such property for the purpose of protecting if for , or of restoring it to, the owner does not take or  misappropriate it dishonestly, and is not guilty of an offence; but he is guilty of the offence above defined, if he  appropriates it to his own use, when he knows or has the means of discovering  the owner, or  before he has used reasonable means to discover and gives notice to the owner and has kept the property a reasonable time to enable the owner to claim it.

            What are reasonable means or what is a reasonable time in such a case, is a question of fact.

            It is not  necessary that the finder should know who is the owner of the property, or  that any particular person is  the owner  of it; it is sufficient if , at the time of appropriating  it, he does not believe it to be his own property , or  in good faith believing  that the real owner cannot be found.

Illustrations

(a)        A finds a rupee on the high road , not knowing to whim the rupee belongs. A picks up the rupee. Here A has not committed the offence defined in this  section.

(b)        A finds a letter on the road, containing a bank note. From the direction and contents of the letter he learns to whim the note belongs . He appropriates the note. He is guilty of an offence under  this section.

(c)        A finds  a cheque  payable to bearer . He can form no conjecture  as to the person  who has lost he cheque. But  the name of the person , who  has drawn the cheque, appears. A  knows that this person can direct him to the person in whose favor the cheque was drawn. A appropriates the cheque without  attempting to discover the owner. He is guilty  of an offence under this section.

(d)        A sees Z drop his purse with money in it . A picks up the purse with  the intention  of restoring it to Z, but afterwards appropriates it to own use. A has committed an offence under this section.

(e)        A finds a purse with money , not knowing  to whom it belongs; he  afterwards discovers that it  belongs to Z, and appreciates it to his own use. A is guilty of an offence  under this section.

A fine a valuable ring, not knowing to whom it belongs. A sells it immediately without attempting to discover the owner, A is guilty of an offence under this section.

CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE

            Punishment-Imprisonment for 2 years ,or fine, or both-Non-cognizable –Bailable-Triable by  Magistrate  –Compoundable by the  owner of the property misappropriated with the  permission of the court.

404. Dishonest misappropriation of property possessed by deceased person at the time of his death.- Whoever dishonestly misappropriates or concerts to his own use  property, knowing that such prosperity was in the possession of a deceased  person at eh time of that  person’s decease, and has not  since been in the possession of any person legally entitled to such possession , shall be punished   with imprisonment of either description for a term  which may extend  to seven years .

Illustration

            Z dies in possession  of furniture and money. His servant  A, before the money comes into the possession of  any  person entitled  to such possession, dishonestly misappropriates it. A has committed the offence defined

CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE

            Punishment-Imprisonment for 3 years and fine Non-Cognizable –Bailable-Triable by  Magistrate  of the first class  –Non-compoundable.

            If by clerk or person employed  by deceased:

            Punishment-Imprisonment for 7 years ,or fine, or both-Cognizable –Bailable-Triable by  Magistrate of the first class  –Non-compoundable.

                                    Of Criminal Breach of Trust

 

405. Criminal breach of trust.- Whoever, being in any manner  entrusted with property , or with any dominion over  property, dishonestly misappropriates or converts to his own use that property, or dishonestly  uses or disposes of that property in violation of any direction of law prescribing  the mode in which such trust is to be discharged, or of any legal contract, express or implied, which he has made touching the discharge of such trust, or willfully suffers any other person so to do , commits “criminal breach of trust”.

            1[Explanation 2 [1]. –A person, being an employer 3[of an establishment whether exempted under section 17 of the Employees’ Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952 (19 of 1952), or not] who deducts the employee’s   contribution form the wages payable to the employee for  credit to a Provident Fund or Family Pension Fund established by any  law for the time being in force, shall be deemed to have

______________________________________________________________

1.        Ins. by Act 40 of 1973, sec. (w.e.f.1-11-1973).

2.        Explanation renumbered as Explanation 1 by Act 38 of 1975,sec .9 (w.e.f.1-9-1975) .

3.        Ins. by Act 33 of 1988 , see. 27 (w.e.f.1-8-1988).

 

been entrusted with the amount of  the contribution so deducted by him and if he makes default in the payment of such contribution to the said Fund in violation of the said law, shall be deemed to have dishonestly used the amount  of the said contribution in violation of a direction of law as aforesaid.]

            1[Explanation 2.-A person , being an employer, who deducts the employees’ contribution  from the wages payable to the employee for credit to Employees’ State Insurance Fund held and administered by the Employees ‘ State Insurance Corporation established under the Employees’ State Insurance Act, 1948 (34 of 1948), shall be demeaned to have been entrusted  with the amount of the contribution to the said Fund in violation of the said Act, shall be deemed to have  dishonestly used to amount of the said contribution in violation of a direction of law as aforesaid.]    

Illustrations

(a)        A, being executor to the will of a deceased  person, dishonestly disobeys the law which directs him to divide the effects according  to will, and appropriate them  to his own use. A has committed criminal  breach of trust.

(b)        A is warehouse-keeper. Z going on a journey, entrusts his furniture to A, under a contract that it shall  be returned on payment of a stipulated sum for warehouse room. A dishonestly sells the goods. A has committed criminal  breach of trust.]

(c)        A, residing in Culcutta, is agent for Z, resident  at Delhi. There is an express or implied contract between A and Z, that all sums remitted by Z to A shall be investment by A, according to Z’s direction. Z remits a lakh of rupees to A, with directions to A to invest the same in Company’s  paper. A dishonestly disobeys the direction and employs  the money in his own business. A has committed  criminal breach of trust.

(d)        But if A, in the last illustration , not dishonestly but in good faith, believing  that it will be more for Z’s advantage to hold shares in the Bank of Bengal, disobeys Z’s directions, and buys shares in the  Bank of Bengal, for Z, instead  of buying a civil action against A, on account of that loss, yet A, not having acted dishonestly, has not committed criminal breach of trust.

(e)        A, a revenue- officer ,is entrusted with public money and is either directed by law or bound by a contract, express or implied, with the Government, to pay into a certain treasury all the public money which he holds. A dishonestly appropriates the money. A has committed criminal branch of trust.  

A, a carrier, is  entrusted by Z with property  to be carried by land or by water.

_______________________________________________________________

1.        1.Ins. by Act 38 of 1975, sec 9 (w.e.f.1-2-1975).

 

A dishonestly misappropriates the property. A has committed criminal breach of trust.

 

406. Punishment for criminal breach of trust.- Whoever commits criminal breach of trust shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.

CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE

            Punishment-Imprisonment for 3 years and fine, or both-Non-cognizable –Bailable-Triable by  Magistrate of the first class –Compoundable by the  owner of the property in respect of which breach of trust has been committed, with the  permission of the court.

                                                            COMMENTS

Sanction for prosecution is not necessary if a public servant is charged for offence  of entering into a criminal conspiracy for committing breach of trust; State or Kerala v. Padmanabham Nair, 1999 Cr LJ 3696 (SC).

 

407. Criminal breach of trust by carrier , etc.- Whoever, being  entrusted with property a carrier, wharfinger or warehouse-keeper, commits criminal breach of trust in respect of such property, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.

CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE

            Punishment-Imprisonment for 7 years and fine-Cognizable –Non-bailable-Triable by  Magistrate of the first class  –Compoundable by the  owner of the property in  respect of which the breach of trust has been committed with  the  permission of the court.

 

408. Criminal breach of trust by clerk or servant.- Whoever, being a clerk or servant or employed  as a clerk or servant, and being in any manner entrusted in  such capacity  with property, or with any dominion over property, commits criminal breach of  trust  in respect  of that property , shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.

CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE

            Punishment-Imprisonment for 7 years and fine-Cognizable –Non-bailable-Triable by  Magistrate of the first class  –Compoundable by the  owner of the property in  respect of which the breach of trust has been committed with  the  permission of the court.

 

409. Criminal breach of trust  by public servant, or by banker, merchant or agent.- Whoever, being in any manner entrusted with property, or  servant  or in the way of his business as a banker, merchant, factor, broker, attorney or agent, commits criminal breach  of trust in respect of that property , shall  be punished  with 1[imprisonment for life], or with imprisonment  of either description for a term which may extend to ten years. and shall also be liable to fine.

 CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE

            Punishment-Imprisonment for life ,or imprisonment for 10 years and fine -Cognizable –Non-bailable-Triable by Magistrate of the class –Non-compoundable.

                                    Of  the Receiving of Stolen Property

 

410. Stolen Property.- Property, the possession whereof has been transferred by theft, or  by extortion , or extortion ,or by robbery, and property with has been criminally misappropriated or in respect of which 2[***] criminal breach of trust has been committed , is  designed as “ stolen property”, 3[whether the transfer has been made, or the misappropriation or breach of trust has been committed, within or without  4[India]]. But, if such property subsequently comes into the possession of a person legally entitles to the possession thereof, to then  cases to be stolen property.

 

411. Dishonestly receiving stolen property.- Whoever dishonestly  receives of retains any stolen property, knowing or having reason to believe the same to be  stolen  property , shall be punished  with imprisonment  or either description for a term which may extend  to three years ,or  with fine, or with  both.

CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE

            Punishment-Imprisonment for 3 years or fine, or both -Cognizable –Non-bailable-Triable by Magistrate- Compoundable by the owner of the property stolen with the permission of the court .

______________________________________________________________

1.        Subs. by Act 26 of 1955, sec. 117 and Sch., for “transportation for life” (w.e.f.1-1-1956)

2.        The words “the “ and “ offence of ‘rep. By Act  12 of 1891 , sec. 2 and Sch. I and Act      8 of 1882, sec.9 respectively.

3.        Ins. by Act 8 of 1882, sec.9.

4.        The words “British India” have successively been subs. by the A.O. 1948, the A.O. 1950 and Act 3 of 1951, sec.3 and  Sch. to read as above.

5.        permission of the court .

           

                                    STATE AMENDMENT

State of Tamil Nadu:

            Section 411 of principal Act shall be renumbered  as sub-section (1) of  that section and after sub-section  (1) as so renumbered, the following sub-section shall be added, namely:-

            “(2)   Whoever dishonestly receives or retains any idol  or icon stolen from any building used as a place of worship knowing or having reason to believe the same to be stolen property shall, notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), be punished with rigorous imprisonment  which shall not be less than two years but which shall be less than two thousand rupees:

            Provided that the court may, for adequate  and special reasons to be mentioned  in the  judgment, impose a sentence of impose a sentence of imprisonment for a term of less them two  years”.

[Vide Tamil Nadu Act 28 of 1993, section 3].

 

412.Dishonestly receiving property stolen in the commission of a dacoity .-  Whoever dishonestly receives or retains any  stolen property, the  possession where of  he knows or has reason to believe to have been transferred by the commission of dacoity , or dishonestly  receives from a person, whom he knows has reason to believe to belong or to have belonged to a gang of dacoits, property which he knows or has reason to believe to have been stolen, shall be punished  with 1[imprisonment for life], or with rigorous  imprisonment for a term  which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.

CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE

            Punishment-Imprisonment for life, or rigorous imprisonment for 10 years and fine-Cognizable –Non-bailable-Triable by Court of Session–Non-compoundable.

COMMENTS

(i)         When articles were received soon after dacoity and proved  to have been stolen in dacotiy , offence falls under section  412 and not under section 395; Amar Singh  v. State v. Madhya Pradesh , AIR  1982 SC 129 : (1982) Cr LJ 610.

(ii)        When no part of prosecution  case is found  reliable including  the alleged recovery of  stolen  property  at the instance  of accused it seems to be on effort by police  to involve the accused persons  by hook or by crook therefore conviction  of  co-accused is also liable to be set  aside; State v. Chhotey  Lal, 1999 Cr LJ 3411 (Del).

 

413. Heabitually dealing in stolen property.- Whoever habitually receives or deals in property which he knows or has reason to believe to be stolen  property , shall be punished with 1[imprisonment for life], or with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years , and shall also be liable to fine.

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  1. Subs. by Act 26 of  1955, sec. 117 and Sch. for “transportation for life ” (w.e. f.

1-1-1950)

 

CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE

Punishment-Imprisonment for life, or imprisonment for 10 years and fine -Cognizable –Non-bailable-Triable by Court of Session - Non- compoundable.

 

414. Assisting in concealment of stolen property.- Whoever voluntarily assists in concealing or disposing of or  making  away with property which he knows or has reason to believe  to be stolen property, shall be punished  with imprisonment of either description  for  a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.

CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE

Punishment-Imprisonment for 3 years, or fine, or both -Cognizable –Non-bailable-Triable by Magistrate –Compounded by the owner of the property stolen with the permission of the court .

Of Cheating

 

415.     heating.-Whoever , by deceiving any person, fraudulently or dishonestly induce the person so deceived to deliver any property to any person, or to consent that any person shall retrain any property ,or intentionally induces  the person  so deceived to do which act or omission cause or is likely to cause damage or harm to that person in body, mind, reputation or property, is said to “cheat”.

Explanation.- A dishonest  concealment  of facts is a deception  within the meaning of this section.

Illustration

(a)        A ,by falsely pretending to be in the Civil Service , intentionally  deceives Z ,and thus dishonestly includes Z to let him have on credit goods for which he does not mean to pay. A cheats.

(b)        A, by putting a counterfeit mark  on an article, intentionally deceives Z into a belief that this article was made by a certain celebrated manufacturer, and thus  dishonestly induces Z to buy and pay for the article. A cheats.

(c)        A. by  exhibiting to Z a false sample  of an  article, intentionally deceives Z into believing that the article corresponds  with the sample, and thereby, dishonestly induces Z to buy and pay for the article. A cheats.

(d)        A, by tendering in payment for an article a bill on a house with which A keeps on money , and by  which A expects that the bill will be dishonored, intentionally deceives Z, and thereby dishonestly induces Z to  deliver the article, intending not to pay for it. A cheats.

(e)        A, by pledging as diamonds article which he knows are not diamonds, intentionally deceives Z, and thereby  dishonestly induces Z to lend money. A cheats.

(f)         A intentionally deceives Z into a belief that A means to repay  any money that Z may  led to him  and thereby dishonestly induces Z to lend him money. A not intending to repay it .A cheats.

(g)        A intentionally deceives Z into a belief that A means to deliver to Z a certain quantity of indigo plant which he does  not intend to deliver  . and thereby   dishonesty induces Z to  advance   money  upon the faith of such delivery, A cheats; but  if A, at the time of obtaining the money, intends to deliver the indigo plant, and afterwards breaks  his contract and does not deliver it, he does not cheat, but is liable only to a civil action for breach of contract.

(h)        A intentionally deceives Z into a belier that  A has performed A’s part of a contract made with Z, which he has outperformed, and thereby dishonestly induces Z to  pay money . A cheats.

(i )        A sells and conveys an estate to B.A, knowing that in consequence of such sale he has no right  to the property , sells  or ,mortgages the same to Z, without  disclosing the fact of the previous sale and conveyance to B, and receives the purchase or ,mortgage money  for Z.A cheats.

 

 

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