- Whoever, commits snatching, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term, which shall not be less than five years, but which may extend to ten years and shall also be liable to fine of rupees ten thousand.
- If in order to the committing of snatching, or in committing the snatching, the offender causes hurt, or wrongful restraint or fear of hurt or after committing the offence of snatching, causes hurt or wrongful restraint or fear of hurt in order to effect his escape, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term, which shall not be less than ten years and shall also be liable to fine of rupees ten thousand.
1 IPC (Punjab Amendment) Act, 2010
IPC Simplified Explanation
IPC Section 379B deals with a more severe form of theft where the offender has made preparations to cause death, hurt, or restraint to any person in order to commit theft or to escape after committing the theft or in attempting to commit the theft. This section was introduced to address situations where theft is accompanied by potentially lethal or dangerous preparations, significantly elevating the risk and impact on the victim.
Is IPC Section 379B bailable?
IPC Section 379B is non-bailable. The severity and potential for harm in offences under this section make it non-bailable, indicating that the accused must appear before a judge to seek bail.
IPC Section 379B punishment
The punishment under IPC Section 379B varies depending on the severity of the preparations and the outcome:
- If no hurt is caused, the punishment can be imprisonment for a term extending to ten years and liable to a fine.
- If hurt is caused, the imprisonment may extend to fourteen years, along with a fine.
- In the most severe cases, where grievous hurt is caused, the term of imprisonment may extend up to life imprisonment or for a term that may extend to twenty years, along with a fine.
This gradation reflects the law’s response to the potential harm to victims and the intent of the offender.
Example of IPC Section 379B
A real-life example of IPC Section 379B involved a group of individuals who broke into a home armed with weapons. They had tied up the homeowners and made clear preparations to cause harm if there was any resistance. The primary intent was to steal valuables from the house. However, during the theft, one of the homeowners was injured while trying to resist. The criminals were apprehended shortly after, and due to their preparedness to cause grievous harm and the injuries inflicted, they were charged under IPC Section 379B. The court sentenced them to fifteen years in prison, emphasizing the deliberate nature of their crime and the serious injuries caused to the victims.
