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CHAPTER VI OF OFFENCES AFFECTING THE HUMAN BODY · Of criminal force and assault

Section 140: Kidnapping or abducting in order to murder or for ransom, etc

The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023

(1) Whoever kidnaps or abducts any person in order that such person may be murdered or may be so disposed of as to be put in danger of being murdered, shall be punished with imprisonment for life or rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.

Illustrations.

(a) A kidnaps Z from India, intending or knowing it to be likely that Z may be sacrificed to an idol. A has committed the offence defined in this section.

(b) A forcibly carries or entices B away from his home in order that B may be murdered. A has committed the offence defined in this section.

(2) Whoever kidnaps or abducts any person or keeps a person in detention after such kidnapping or abduction, and threatens to cause death or hurt to such person, or by his conduct gives rise to a reasonable apprehension that such person may be put to death or hurt, or causes hurt or death to such person in order to compel the Government or any foreign State or international inter-governmental organisation or any other person to do or abstain from doing any act or to pay a ransom, shall be punishable with death, or imprisonment for life, and shall also be liable to fine.

(3) Whoever kidnaps or abducts any person with intent to cause that person to be secretly and wrongfully confined, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.

(4) Whoever kidnaps or abducts any person in order that such person may be subjected, or may be so disposed of as to be put in danger of being subjected to grievous hurt, or slavery, or to the unnatural lust of any person, or knowing it to be likely that such person will be so subjected or disposed of, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.

Corresponding IPC provision

As given in the correspondence table of the National Crime Records Bureau (Ministry of Home Affairs). Read both texts before relying on it. NCRB table

Questions on this section

4 questions in 15 of our papers cite Section 140. Try these from the free papers:

  1. 1. A, by deceitful means, induces Z, an adult, to accompany him to a distant town, intending that Z shall be kept secretly and wrongfully confined there. There is no demand for ransom and no intent to cause death or hurt. Under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, A is punishable with imprisonment which may extend to

  2. 2. Under Section 140(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, whoever kidnaps or abducts any person in order that such person may be murdered is punishable with

Practise questions on Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita