Section 309 - Robbery

Robbery Defined: Theft or Extortion with Harm or Fear, Severe Penalties under Section 309 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita

Section 309 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, defines robbery as involving either theft or extortion. Theft becomes robbery if the offender causes or attempts to cause harm or fear of harm while committing or attempting to carry away stolen property. Extortion becomes robbery if the offender, in the victim's presence, induces fear of immediate harm to obtain property. Illustrations clarify scenarios constituting robbery. Punishments include rigorous imprisonment up to ten years, extendable to fourteen years for highway robberies at night, and life imprisonment if harm is caused during the robbery. Attempted robbery is punishable by up to seven years of imprisonment.