Section 309 BNS: Robbery

Table of Contents

Section 309 BNS | BNS 309 | Robbery Section

309(1) BNS

In all robbery, there is either theft or extortion.

309(2) BNS

Theft is robbery if, in order to the committing of the theft, or in committing the theft, or in carrying 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.

309(3) BNS

Extortion is robbery if the offender, at the time of committing the extortion, is in the presence of the person put 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, induces the person so put in fear then and there to deliver up the thing extorted.

Explanation— The offender is said to be present if 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 road, shows a pistol, and demands Z’s purse. Z, in consequence, surrenders his purse. Here A has extorted the purse from Z by putting him in fear of instant hurt, and being at the time of committing the extortion in his presence. A has therefore committed robbery.

(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 my 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.

309(4) BNS

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.

309(5) BNS

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.

309(6) BNS

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

READ OTHER SECTIONS OF CHAPTER XVII — OF OFFENCES AGAINST PROPERTY

Section No.	Section Title
	Of Theft
303	Theft.
304	Snatching.
305	Theft in a dwelling house, or means of transportation or place of worship, etc.
306	Theft by clerk or servant of property in possession of master.
307	Theft after preparation made for causing death, hurt or restraint in order to committing of theft.
	Of Extortion
308	Extortion.
	Of Robbery And Dacoity
309	Robbery.
310	Dacoity.
311	Robbery, or dacoity, with attempt to cause death or grievous hurt.
312	Attempt to commit robbery or dacoity when armed with deadly weapon.
313	Punishment for belonging to gang of robbers, etc.
	Of Criminal Misappropriation Of Property
314	Dishonest misappropriation of property.
315	Dishonest misappropriation of property possessed by deceased person at the time of his death.
	Of Criminal Breach Of Trust
316	Criminal breach of trust.
	Of Receiving Stolen Property
317	Stolen property.
	Of Cheating
318	Cheating.
319	Cheating by personation.
	Of Fraudulent Deeds And Dispositions Of Property
320	Dishonest or fraudulent removal or concealment of property to prevent distribution among creditors.
321	Dishonestly or fraudulently preventing debt being available for creditors.
322	Dishonest or fraudulent execution of deed of transfer containing false statement of consideration.
323	Dishonest or fraudulent removal or concealment of property.
	Of Mischief
324	Mischief.
325	Mischief by killing or maiming animal.
326	Mischief by injury, inundation, fire or explosive substance, etc.
327	Mischief with intent to destroy or make unsafe a rail, aircraft, decked vessel or one of twenty tons burden.
328	Punishment for intentionally running vessel aground or ashore with intent to commit theft, etc.
	Of Criminal Trespass
329	Criminal trespass and house-trespass.
330	House-trespass and hous-ebreaking.
331	Punishment for house-trespass or house-breaking.
332	House-trespass in order to commit offence.
333	House-trespass after preparation for hurt, assault or wrongful restraint.
334	Dishonestly breaking open receptacle containing property.

Read all the chapters of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023

FAQs of BNS Section 309

309 BNS punishment and fine

Punishment and fine under Section 309 of the BNS—

309(4): Rigorous imprisonment for 10 years and fine.
If robbery committed on highway between sunset and sunrise: Rigorous imprisonment for 14 years.
309(5): Rigorous imprisonment for 7 years and fine.
309(6): Imprisonment for life, or rigorous imprisonment for 10 years and fine.
309 BNS cognizable or not

The offence under Section 309(4), 309(5) and 309(6) of the BNS is cognizable.
309 BNS bailable or not

The offence under Section 309(4), 309(5) and 309(6) of the BNS is non-bailable.
309 BNS trial court

Offence specified in Section 309(4), 309(5) and 309(6) of the BNS is triable by the Magistrate of the first class.

Important Points

Cognizable Offences: These are offences where a police officer can arrest a person without a warrant.

Non-Cognizable Offences: These are offences where a police officer cannot arrest a person without a warrant.

Bailable Offences: These are offences where the accused can get bail from the police station itself. All bailable offences are listed in the First Schedule of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).

Non-Bailable Offences: Offences in which bail is not granted directly from the police station but after hearing the case in the court, the judge decides when bail will be granted. All non-bailable offences are listed in the first schedule of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).