Chapter XVII — Of Offences Against Property
Introduction
Chapter XVII of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita covers a wide range of offences against property. It includes theft, robbery, dacoity, extortion, misappropriation, breach of trust, receiving stolen goods, cheating, fraud, mischief, and trespass. These provisions ensure the protection of property rights, punish dishonest or violent acquisition of property, and safeguard individuals against financial or physical harm caused by such offences.
BNS Sections Covered
| Section | Title | Short description |
|---|---|---|
| 303 | Theft | Dishonestly taking property out of someone’s possession without consent. |
| 304 | Snatching | Sudden, forceful theft of property from a person. |
| 305 | Theft in a dwelling house, transport or place of worship | Theft committed in homes, vehicles, or religious places. |
| 306 | Theft by clerk or servant | Employee stealing property from employer’s possession. |
| 307 | Theft after preparation for causing death or hurt | Theft committed with intent or preparation to cause harm. |
| 308 | Extortion | Obtaining property by putting someone in fear of injury. |
| 309 | Robbery | Theft or extortion involving immediate violence or threat. |
| 310 | Dacoity | Robbery committed by five or more persons together. |
| 311 | Robbery or dacoity with attempt to cause death or grievous hurt | Robbery/dacoity involving attempt to kill or grievously injure. |
| 312 | Attempt to commit robbery/dacoity with deadly weapon | Attempting robbery or dacoity while armed. |
| 313 | Gang of robbers or dacoits | Being part of a gang organized for robbery/dacoity. |
| 314 | Dishonest misappropriation of property | Taking property for own use dishonestly. |
| 315 | Misappropriation of deceased person’s property | Using property left behind by deceased dishonestly. |
| 316 | Criminal breach of trust | Breach of entrusted responsibility to use property faithfully. |
| 317 | Receiving stolen property | Possessing or receiving property knowing it to be stolen. |
| 318 | Cheating | Deceiving a person to fraudulently gain property. |
| 319 | Cheating by personation | Pretending to be another person for fraudulent gain. |
| 320 | Fraudulent removal to prevent distribution | Dishonestly removing property to avoid creditor distribution. |
| 321 | Dishonestly preventing debt recovery | Fraudulently preventing debt from being available to creditors. |
| 322 | Fraudulent execution of false deed | Making a deed of transfer with false value consideration. |
| 323 | Fraudulent concealment of property | Dishonestly hiding property from rightful creditors or owners. |
| 324 | Mischief | Causing destruction or change to property with wrongful loss. |
| 325 | Mischief by killing or maiming animal | Harming animals with intent to cause loss. |
| 326 | Mischief by injury, inundation, fire or explosive substance | Causing large-scale damage to property by dangerous means. |
| 327 | Mischief with intent to destroy or make unsafe rail, aircraft, vessel | Acts damaging railway, aircraft or vessel safety. |
| 328 | Punishment for intentionally running vessel aground or ashore with intent to commit theft, etc | Deliberately grounding a vessel to facilitate theft or other criminal acts against property. |
| 329 | Criminal trespass and house-trespass | Unlawfully entering property with criminal intent. |
| 330 | House-trespass and house-breaking | Breaking into a house unlawfully. |
| 331 | Punishment for house-trespass | Penalties for unlawful entry into homes/buildings. |
| 332 | House-trespass in order to commit offence | Entering premises with intent to commit an offence. |
| 333 | House-trespass after preparation for hurt | Breaking in with preparation to cause harm or restraint. |
| 334 | Breaking open receptacle containing property | Dishonestly breaking into containers of property. |
Conclusion
Chapter XVII (BNS 303–334) extensively covers property-related crimes including theft, robbery, extortion, cheating, fraud, mischief, and trespass. These provisions safeguard property ownership and penalize dishonest or violent acts against property, ensuring protection of citizens’ rights and maintenance of law and order in society.