CHAPTER XI OF FALSE EVIDENCE AND OFFENCES AGAINST PUBLIC JUSTICE

Section 216A: Penalty for harbouring robbers or dacoits

Repealed by the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (45 of 2023) with effect from 1 July 2024.

¹[Whoever, knowing or having reason to believe that any persons are about to commit or have recently committed robbery or dacoity, harbours them or any of them, with the intention of facilitating the commission of such robbery or dacoity, or of screening them or any of them from punishment, shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.

Explanation.—For the purposes of this section it is immaterial whether the robbery or dacoity is intended to be committed, or has been committed, within or without ²[India].

Exception.—This provision does not extend to the case in which the harbour is by the husband or wife of the offender.]

Footnotes in the official text

1.Ins. by Act 3 of 1894, s. 8.
2.The words “British India” have successively been subs. by the A. O. 1948, the A. O. 1950 and Act 3 of 1951, s. 3 and the Sch., to read as above.

Now in the BNS

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

216A.Penalty for harbouring robbers or dacoits.

BNS 254

Questions on this section

1 question in 6 of our papers cite Section 216A. Try these from the free papers:

1. Assertion (A): A person who, in India, harbours a gang, knowing that its members are about to commit a dacoity in a neighbouring country, with the intention of facilitating that dacoity, is punishable under Section 254 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. Reason (R): Under the Explanation to Section 254 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, it is immaterial whether the robbery or dacoity is intended to be committed, or has been committed, within or without India. Choose the correct option.

Practise questions on Criminal Law