Indian Penal Code, 1860
Section 395
repealedPunishment for dacoity
Whoever commits dacoity shall be punished with imprisonment for life, or with rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.
Why this exists
This section provides the punishment for dacoity, the more serious, group form of robbery involving five or more participants, reflecting the greater organised danger such crimes pose compared to robbery by one or a few individuals. Historically, dacoity by large armed gangs was seen as a major threat to public order in India, prompting the law to allow for punishment as severe as life imprisonment. A comparably serious punishment for group robbery continues under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, which replaced the Indian Penal Code in 2024.