Indian Penal Code, 1860
Section 399
repealedMaking preparation to commit dacoity
Whoever makes any preparation for committing dacoity, shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.
Why this exists
This section punishes the preparatory stage of dacoity, gathering weapons, planning, or organising a group for the purpose, even before the group actually attempts the robbery itself. The law treats such preparation as dangerous enough on its own to deserve serious punishment, allowing the police to intervene and prosecute before an organised gang crime is actually carried out, rather than waiting for the harm to occur. A similar provision punishing preparation for group robbery continues under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, which replaced the Indian Penal Code in 2024.