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.
IPC Section 216A in BNS: Section 254
Penalty for harbouring robbers or dacoits
Section 216A of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (Penalty for harbouring robbers or dacoits) corresponds to Section 254 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, in force from 1 July 2024. Under the BNSS First Schedule, BNS 254 is cognizable, bailable, triable by Magistrate of the first class; punishment: Rigorous imprisonment for 7 years and fine.
Ask on WhatsApp, free, no signup:
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.
The BNS applies to offences committed on or after 1 July 2024. Offences committed earlier are charged and tried under the IPC.
Text of BNS Section 254
Full BNS Section 254 and every IPC section it replaced →
Ask CaseMinister about IPC 216A / BNS 254
Your 24×7 legal assistant on WhatsApp answers with the judgments that apply, in English or Hindi. No signup needed.