254. 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.
BNS Section 254: Penalty for harbouring robbers or dacoits
Section 254 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 deals with penalty for harbouring robbers or dacoits. It replaces IPC 216A of the Indian Penal Code, 1860. Under the BNSS First Schedule, BNS 254 is cognizable and bailable.
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Bail, cognizability and punishment
| Section | Offence | Punishment | Cognizable | Bailable | Triable by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 254 | Harbouring robbers or dacoits. | Rigorous imprisonment for 7 years and fine. | Cognizable | Bailable | Magistrate of the first class |
Source: BNSS, 2023, First Schedule, Part I.
Text of BNS Section 254
IPC sections replaced
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