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Central Act · India · Chapter VI — Of Offences Affecting The Human Body

Section 140 BNS Kidnapping or abducting in order to murder or for ransom, etc

Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 · Edition: Original enacted Gazette, 25 December 2023; UP Police comparison table supplied in 2024

(1) Whoever kidnaps or abducts any person in order that such person may be murdered or may be so disposed of as to be put in danger of being murdered, shall be punished with imprisonment for life or rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.

Illustrations.

(a) A kidnaps Z from India, intending or knowing it to be likely that Z may be sacrificed to an idol. A has committed the offence defined in this section.

(b) A forcibly carries or entices B away from his home in order that B may be murdered. A has committed the offence defined in this section.

(2) Whoever kidnaps or abducts any person or keeps a person in detention after such kidnapping or abduction, and threatens to cause death or hurt to such person, or by his conduct gives rise to a reasonable apprehension that such person may be put to death or hurt, or causes hurt or death to such person in order to compel the Government or any foreign State or international inter-governmental organisation or any other person to do or abstain from doing any act or to pay a ransom, shall be punishable with death, or imprisonment for life, and shall also be liable to fine.

(3) Whoever kidnaps or abducts any person with intent to cause that person to be secretly and wrongfully confined, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.

(4) Whoever kidnaps or abducts any person in order that such person may be subjected, or may be so disposed of as to be put in danger of being subjected to grievous hurt, or slavery, or to the unnatural lust of any person, or knowing it to be likely that such person will be so subjected or disposed of, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.

Source document ↗

Judgments on Section 140

LOK 2026 (10) SC 261 · Supreme Court of India

Arun @ Deepak v. State of U.P.

Equivalent citations: 2026 INSC 1150

ActsPenal Code, 1860 — Sections 364, 302 and 201 — Evidence Act, 1872 — Sections 27 and 65B

Having directed time-bound completion of trial on a bail plea, and the accused having been acquitted, whether the manner of investigation and prosecution that kept him in custody for six years calls for comment and reparation. [Paras 1–3, 14–15]

LOK 2011 (4) SC 203 · Supreme Court of India

Inspector of Police, Tamil Nadu v. John David

Equivalent citations: JT 2011 (5) SC 1 : 2011 (4) SCALE 878 :

Subject–
Judges–
ActsIndian Penal Code, 1860 (Sections 201, 302, 342 and 364); Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 (Sections 378 and 386)

LOK 2008 (7) SC 234 · Supreme Court of India

Bantu v. State of U.P.Bantu

Equivalent citations: 2008 (10) SCALE 336 : 2008 (3) ALT(Cri) 125 (SC) : 2008 (6) SCJ 871 : 2009 (1) LW 31 (Crl.)

Subject–
Judges–
ActsIndian Penal Code, 1860 (Sections 302, 364 and 376)

LOK 2003 (9) SC 269 · Supreme Court of India

State of Haryana v. Jagbir Singh

Equivalent citations: 2003 (11) SCC 261 : 2004 SCC(Cri) 126 : AIR 2003 SC 4377 : 2003 (S2) JT 393 : 2003 (8) Scale 221 : 2003 (7) Supreme 117 : 2003 (6) SLT 137 : 2003 (10) SRJ 185 : 2003 (109) CriLJ 5054 : 2003 (4) Crimes 241 : 2003 (4) CCR 178 : 2004 (1) CRJ 333 : 2003 (4) KHCACJ 251 : 2003 (SUP) CriLJ 5054 : 2003 (1) SCW 5180

Subject–
ActsIndian Penal Code, 1860 (Sections 201, 364 and 384); Evidence Act, 1872 (Section 27)