Assault or criminal force in attempt to commit theft of property carried by a person
Section 134 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 deals with assault or criminal force in attempt to commit theft of property carried by a person. Whoever assaults or uses criminal force to any person, in attempting to commit theft on any property which that person is then wearing or carrying, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both. The Act came into force on 01 Jul 2024.
Whoever assaults or uses criminal force to any person, in attempting to commit theft on any property which that person is then wearing or carrying, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.
Section 134, The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (Act 45 of 2023).
Replaces a provision of the Indian Penal Code
IPC 356 Assault or criminal force in attempt to commit theft of property carried by a person Text carried over almost unchanged 100%
Measured by comparing the text of the two provisions, not taken from an official correspondence table — there is no machine-readable one. See both texts side by side before relying on it.
Both regimes are live. The repealed enactment still governs what happened while it was in force. We never redirect one to the other.
How this offence is classified
From the First Schedule to the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, which classifies every offence under the Sanhita. Cognizable means a police officer may arrest without warrant; bailable means bail is a matter of right rather than of the court's discretion.
| Offence | Punishment | Cognizable | Bailable | Triable by |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assault or criminal force in attempt to commit theft of property worn or carried by a person. | Imprisonment for 2 years, or fine, or both. | Cognizable. | Bailable. | Any Magistrate. |
Related judgements & precedents
These are some judgments that construed this section, and hold precedence value. They hold authority on how to read, interpret and use this section.
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Sagar vs Union Territory
Decided under Indian Penal Code 356, which this section replaces. The court did not have this Act before it.
Court's Decision & Legal Precedent
A prisoner with an extensive criminal history involving multiple serious offences (dacoity, robbery, theft, forgery, and drug-related crimes) cannot be granted parole merely on the grounds of meeting family members or performing conjugal rights, particularly when the parole authority has reasonably determined that releasing such a prisoner would pose a potential danger to society.
On this section: Wrongful restraint - FIR No. 323 of 2015 against petitioner
The holding above is the ratio decidendi as extracted from the judgment by eCourts India, reproduced unaltered — it is a rendering of the court's reasoning, not a substitute for its words. Read the order itself before relying on it.
Questions about Section 134
What have the courts held on Section 134 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita?
Sagar vs Union Territory (04 Dec 2020) is the leading judgment on this section among those set out below, though it was decided under IPC 356, which this section replaced -- the court never mentioned this Act: Wrongful restraint - FIR No. 323 of 2015 against petitioner.
Is Section 134 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita bailable?
Bailable, under the First Schedule to the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.
Is Section 134 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita cognizable?
Cognizable. "Cognizable" means a police officer may arrest without warrant; "non-cognizable" that they may not. An offence under this section is triable by Any Magistrate.
How do I find court cases under Section 134 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita?
In judgments and charge sheets this section is written several ways, and each form finds a different set of orders. These search the full text of every order eCourtsIndia holds, best matches first: BNS 134, section 134 BNS, section 134 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. People searching for it also type bns 134 a and b and bns 134 2. Each opens the full list of orders on eCourtsIndia, where it can be narrowed by court, year and outcome. 1 reported judgment on this section is set out on this page, beginning with Sagar vs Union Territory (04 Dec 2020).
What should I read with Section 134 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and has it changed?
It carries forward IPC 356 (Assault or criminal force in attempt to commit theft of property carried by a person), so the judgments decided under that provision are the case law on this one.
When did Section 134 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita come into force?
Section 134 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, cited as BNS 134, came into force on 01 Jul 2024, having been enacted on 25 Dec 2023. It is in force as at the date shown on this page.
Other sections of this Act
- 2. Definitions2199 words
- 356. Defamation1543 words
- 335. Making a false document1318 words
- 101. Murder1177 words
- 303. Theft1104 words
- 3. General explanations858 words
Source and method. Compiled from the enactments of Parliament and of the State legislatures as published on India Code, and republished together with commentary and other original matter under section 52(1)(q)(ii) of the Copyright Act, 1957. Structured, cross-referenced and maintained by eCourtsIndia. Text as in force on 14 Oct 2026. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.