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What is Theft? What is the punishment for theft? Section 378 and 379 of Indian Penal Code 1860

Theft and Punishment for Theft under Indian Penal Code is defined under Section 378 and 379 of Indian Penal Code 1860. Provisions under these sections are:

 

   

Section 378 of Indian Penal Code. "Theft"

Whoever, intending to take dishonestly any moveable property out of the possession of any person without that person's consent, moves that property in order to such taking, is said to commit theft.

Explanation 1- A thing so Long as it is attached to the earth, not being movable property, is not the subject of theft; but it becomes capable of being the subject of theft as soon as it is severed from the earth.

Explanation 2- A moving effected by the same act which affects the severance may be a theft.

Explanation 3- A person is said to cause a thing to move by removing an obstacle which prevented it from moving or by separating it from any other thing as well as by actually moving. it.

Explanation 4- A person, who by any means causes an animal to move, is said to move that animal, and to move everything. which, in consequence of the motion so caused, is moved by that animal.

Explanation 5- The consent mentioned in the definition may be express or implied, and may be given either by the person in possession, or by any person having for the purpose authority either express or implied.

Illustrations (a) A cuts down a tree on Z's around, with the intention of dishonestly taking the tree out of Z's possession without Z's consent. Here, as soon as A has severed the tree in order to such taking, he has committed theft.

(b) A puts a bait for dogs in his pocket, and thus induces Z's dog to follow it. Here, if A's intention be dishonestly to take the dog out of Z's possession without Z's consent. A has committed theft as soon as Z's dog has begun to follow A.

(c) A meets a bullock carrying a box of treasure. He drives the bullock in a certain direction, in order that he may dishonestly take the treasure. As soon as the bullock begins to move, A has committed theft of the treasure.

(d) A, being Z's servant, and entrusted by Z with the care of Z's plate, dishonestly runs away with the plate, without Z's consent. A has committed theft.

(e) Z, going on a journey, entrusts his plate to A, the keeper of the warehouse, till Z shall return. A carries the plate to a goldsmith and sells it. Here the plate was not in Z's possession. It could not therefore be taken out of Z's possession, and A has not committed theft, though he may have committed criminal breach of trust.

(f) A finds a ring belonging to Z on a table in the house which Z occupies. Here the ring is in Z's possession, and if A dishonestly removes it, A commits theft. (g) A finds a ring lying on the highroad, not in the possession of any person. A by taking it, commits no theft, though he may commit criminal misappropriation of property.

(h) A sees a ring belonging to Z lying on a table in Z's house. Not venturing to misappropriate the ring immediately for fear of search and detection, A hides the ring in a place where it is highly improbable that it will ever be found by Z, with the intention of taking the ring from the hiding place and selling it when the loss is forgotten. Here A, at the time of first moving the ring, commits theft.

(i) A delivers his watch to Z, a jeweller, to be regulated. Z carries it to his shop. A, not owing to the jeweller any debt for which the jeweller might lawfully detain the watch as a security, enters the shop openly, takes his watch by force out of Z's hand, and carries it away. Here A, though he may have committed criminal trespass and assault, has not committed theft, in as much as what he did was not done dishonestly.

(j) If A owes money to Z for repairing the watch, and if Z retains the watch lawfully as a security for the debt, and A takes the watch out of Z's possession, with the intention of depriving Z of the property as a security for his debt, he commits theft, in as much as he takes it dishonestly.

(k) Again, if A, having pawned his watch to Z, takes it out of Z's possession without Z's consent, not having paid what he borrowed on the watch, he commits theft, though the watch is his own property in as much as he takes it dishonestly.

(l) A takes an article belonging to Z out of Z's possession, without Z's consent, with the intention of keeping it until he obtains money from Z as a reward for its restoration. Here A takes dishonestly; A has therefore committed theft.

(m) A, being, on friendly terms with Z, goes into Z's library in Z's absence, and takes away a book without Z's express consent for the purpose merely of reading it, and with the intention of returning it. Here, it is probable that A may have conceived that he had Z's implied consent to use Z's book. If this was A's impression, A has not committed theft.

(n) A asks charity from Z's wife. She gives A money, food and clothes, which A knows to belong to Z her husband. Here it is probable that A may conceive that Z's wife is authorised to give away alms. If this was A's impression, A has not committed theft.

(o) A is the paramour of Z's wife. She gives a valuable property, which A knows to belong to her husband Z, and to be such property as she has no authority from Z to give. If A takes the property dishonestly, he commits theft.

(p) A, in good faith, believing property belonging to Z to be A's own property, takes that property out of B's possession. Here, as A does not take dishonestly, he does not commit theft.

Section 379 of Indian Penal Code. "Punishment for Theft"

Whoever commits theft shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.

STATE AMENDMENT

Gujarat.-

In the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (XLV of 1860), after section 379, the following sections shall be inserted, namely:-

379A. Snatching.-(1) Whoever, with the intention to commit theft, suddenly or quickly or forcibly seizes or secures or grabs or takes away from any person or from his physical possession any moveable property, and makes or attempt to make escape with such property, is said to commit snatching.

(2)Whoever attempts to commit snatching shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than five years but which may extend to ten years, and with fine which may extend to twenty-five thousand rupees.

(3)Whoever commits snatching shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than seven years but which may extend to ten years, and with fine which may extend to twenty-five thousand rupees.

(4) Whoever, after committing or attempting to commit snatching, causes hurt or wrongful restraint of fear of hurt, in order to effect his escape shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years, in addition to the punishment provided for the offence of snatching by the preceding sub-sections.

379B. Snatching after preparation made for causing death, hurt or restraint in order to the committing of snatching.-Whoever commits or attempts to commit snatching, having made preparation for causing death, or hurt, or restraint, or fear of death, or of hurt, or of restraint, to any person, in order to the committing of such snatching, or in order to the retaining of property taken by such snatching, shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than seven years but which may extend to ten years, and with fine which may extend to twenty-five thousand rupees.

[Vide Gujarat Act 6 of 2019, sec. 2.]

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