Section 144 of BNS : Section 144: Exploitation of a trafficked person.

Explanation using Example

Example 1:

Ravi, a 35-year-old man, runs a small hotel in Mumbai. He knowingly hires a 14-year-old girl, Meena, who has been trafficked from a rural village, to work in his hotel. Ravi forces Meena into prostitution by threatening her and withholding her identification documents. Under Section 144(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023, Ravi can be punished with rigorous imprisonment for a term of not less than five years, which may extend to ten years, and he will also be liable to pay a fine.

Example 2:

Sunita, a 28-year-old woman, is aware that her neighbor, Ramesh, has been trafficked from another state and is being forced to work in a factory under inhumane conditions. Despite knowing this, Sunita coerces Ramesh into performing sexual acts for money by threatening to report him to the authorities for being an illegal immigrant. Under Section 144(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023, Sunita can be punished with rigorous imprisonment for a term of not less than three years, which may extend to seven years, and she will also be liable to pay a fine.