BNS vs IPC: Offences against property (§§ 303-334)

Offences against property - BNS §§ 303-334 vs IPC.

BNS · IPC

Blog is written using KanoonGPT Pro subscription.

Summary

Theft, snatching, extortion, robbery, dacoity, criminal breach of trust, cheating, mischief, and trespass - the daily property crime toolkit.

Big practical maps: theft = BNS 303 (not 379), snatching = 304 (new), “420” = 318(4), CBT = 316 with a higher general maximum. Several property offences merge definition and punishment, harden repeat or minimum terms, and expand place-based theft (homes, transport, worship, government property).

Headlines in this topic

• BNS 304 (IPC -): New: snatching - sudden/quick/forcible grab - up to 3 years + fine.
• BNS 303 (IPC 378): Definition + punishment together; harder on repeat theft; low-value first offence may get community service.
• BNS 309 (IPC 390): Consolidated theft/extortion robbery rules; restructured but substantive elements remain similar.
• BNS 316 (IPC 405): CBT limbs in one section; general max 5 years (IPC 406: 3 years).
• BNS 320 (IPC 421): Introduced mandatory minimum imprisonment of six months, replacing IPC 421’s discretionary term.
• BNS 322 (IPC 423): Enhanced maximum imprisonment from two years (IPC 423) to three years.
• BNS 323 (IPC 424): Enhanced maximum imprisonment from two years (IPC 424) to three years.
• BNS 325 (IPC 428): Increased maximum imprisonment from two years (IPC 428) to five years; removed value threshold.

What changed

Only real differences. The IPC column already shows the corresponding old section.

BNS	IPC	Title	What changed
303	IPC 378	Theft	Definition + punishment together; harder on repeat theft; low-value first offence may get community service.
304	-	Snatching	New: snatching - sudden/quick/forcible grab - up to 3 years + fine.
309	IPC 390	Robbery	Consolidated theft/extortion robbery rules; restructured but substantive elements remain similar.
314	IPC 403	Dishonest misappropriation of property	Introduced mandatory minimum six months imprisonment.
316	IPC 405	Criminal breach of trust	CBT limbs in one section; general max 5 years (IPC 406: 3 years).
317	IPC 410	Stolen property	Expanded stolen property definition to include extortion.
318	IPC 415	Cheating	Cheating definition + graded punishments; 318(4) is old 420 territory.
320	IPC 421	Dishonest or fraudulent removal or concealment of property to prevent distribution…	Introduced mandatory minimum imprisonment of six months, replacing IPC 421’s discretionary term.
322	IPC 423	Dishonest or fraudulent execution of deed of transfer containing false statement o…	Enhanced maximum imprisonment from two years (IPC 423) to three years.
323	IPC 424	Dishonest or fraudulent removal or concealment of property	Enhanced maximum imprisonment from two years (IPC 424) to three years.
325	IPC 428	Mischief by killing or maiming animal	Increased maximum imprisonment from two years (IPC 428) to five years; removed value threshold.
326	IPC 430	Mischief by injury, inundation, fire or explosive substance, etc	Consolidated IPC 430/431; expanded scope to include fire/explosives with five-year imprisonment.
327	IPC 437	Mischief with intent to destroy or make unsafe a rail, aircraft, decked vessel or …	Added “rail” and “aircraft” to IPC 437’s scope of vessels.
329	IPC 441	Criminal trespass and house-trespass	Consolidated IPC 441 definition into a new section.
330	IPC 443	House-trespass and house-breaking	Consolidated IPC 443 definition into a new section.
331	IPC 453	Punishment for house-trespass or house-breaking	Consolidated IPC 453 punishment into a new section.
332	IPC 449	House-trespass in order to commit offence	Compare full text.
333	IPC 452	House-trespass after preparation for hurt, assault or wrongful restraint	Added new sub-sections (b) and (c) for lesser offences; IPC 449 covered only death-punishable offences.
334	IPC 461	Dishonestly breaking open receptacle containing property	Added sub-section (2) for entrusted persons; IPC 461 covered only general breaking.

Renumbered only

Same idea as the IPC - number map only.

BNS	IPC	Title	Note
305	IPC 380	Theft in a dwelling house, or means of transportation or place of worship, etc	Same substance as IPC.
306	IPC 381	Theft by clerk or servant of property in possession of master	Same substance as IPC.
307	IPC 382	Theft after preparation made for causing death, hurt or restraint in order to comm…	Same substance as IPC.
308	IPC 383	Extortion. Of robbery and dacoity	Same substance as IPC.
310	IPC 391	Dacoity	Same substance as IPC.
311	IPC 397	Robbery, or dacoity, with attempt to cause death or grievous hurt	Same substance as IPC.
312	IPC 398	Attempt to commit robbery or dacoity when armed with deadly weapon	Same substance as IPC.
313	IPC 401	Punishment for belonging to gang of robbers, etc	Same substance as IPC.
315	IPC 404	Dishonest misappropriation of property possessed by deceased person at the time of…	Same substance as IPC.
319	IPC 416	Cheating by personation	Same substance as IPC.
321	IPC 422	Dishonestly or fraudulently preventing debt being available for creditors	Same substance as IPC.
324	IPC 425	Mischief	Same substance as IPC.
328	IPC 439	Punishment for intentionally running vessel aground or ashore with intent to commi…	Same substance as IPC.

Series (by topic)

1. Preliminary & punishments (§§ 1-13)
2. General exceptions & private defence (§§ 14-44)
3. Abetment, conspiracy & attempt (§§ 45-62)
4. Offences against woman & child (§§ 63-99)
5. Homicide, negligence & organised crime (§§ 100-113)
6. Hurt, force, kidnapping & trafficking (§§ 114-146)
7. State, forces, elections & currency (§§ 147-188)
8. Public order, servants & contempt (§§ 189-226)
9. False evidence & public justice (§§ 227-269)
10. Public health, safety, morals & religion (§§ 270-302)
11. Offences against property (§§ 303-334)
12. Documents, intimidation, defamation & repeal (§§ 335-358)