Penalty for harbouring robbers or dacoits
Full Text
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 India.
Exception.—The provisions of this section do not extend to the case in which the harbour is by the spouse of the offender.
Plain English Summary
Penalizes harbouring or concealing persons who are about to commit or have recently committed robbery or dacoity to facilitate the crime or screen them from punishment. Punishable by up to seven years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine. Spouses are exempted.
Key Legal Elements
- Robbery or dacoity is about to be committed, or has recently been committed
- Accused harbours the persons involved knowing or having reason to believe this
- Intention to facilitate the commission of the robbery/dacoity or to screen them from punishment
- The harbourer is not the spouse of the offender
Punishment
Up to 7 years rigorous imprisonment + fine.
Practical Note
Requires proof of knowledge/belief about the robbery/dacoity and intent to facilitate the crime or shield the offenders. Harbouring by a spouse is exempted. This is a cognizable and bailable offence triable by a Magistrate of the First Class.
हिंदी पाठ
जो कोई यह जानते हुए या विश्वास करने का कारण रखते हुए कि कुछ व्यक्ति लूट या डकैती करने वाले हैं या उन्होंने हाल ही में की है, उन व्यक्तियों को या उनमें से किसी को, ऐसी लूट या डकैती का किया जाना सुकर बनाने के या उन्हें या उनमें से किसी को दंड से बचाने के आशय से, संश्रय देगा, वह कठिन कारावास से, जिसकी अवधि सात वर्ष तक की हो सकेगी, दंडित किया जाएगा और जुर्माने से भी दंडनीय होगा।
स्पष्टीकरण—इस धारा के प्रयोजनों के लिए यह महत्वहीन है कि लूट या डकैती भारत में की जाने के लिए आशयित है या की गई है, अथवा भारत से बाहर।
अपवाद—इस धारा के उपबंधों का विस्तार ऐसे मामले पर नहीं है जिसमें संश्रय अपराधी के पति या पत्नी द्वारा किया गया हो।