Theft, Extortion, Robbery and Dacoity Questions and Answers

Q: Pursuant to the definition provided in Section 378 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), 1860, which of the following constitutes an essential element of the offence of 'Theft' ?

The essential element is the movement of movable property out of a person's possession without their consent.Section 378 IPC defines theft as the dishonest taking of any movable property out of the possession of any person without that person's consent, by moving it in order to take it. Dishonest intention, movable property, possession of another, absence of consent and moving the property are its ingredients.Immovable property cannot be the subject of theft. No force or violence is required; using force to commit theft is what turns it into robbery. And the property can be taken from anywhere, not only a public place.

Q: Which of the following is not an essential element of Theft U/S 378 of IPC.

The element that is not part of theft is taking possession with the consent of the owner.Section 378 of the IPC defines theft as taking, with dishonest intention, any movable property out of the possession of any person without that person's consent, by moving the property in order to such taking. Its ingredients are dishonest intention, movable property, taking out of another's possession, absence of consent, and moving the property for the taking.Taking with the owner's consent is the opposite of what the section requires. The other three options state genuine ingredients: dishonest intention, movable property, and moving the property in order to take it.

Q: Which of the following offences is punishable at preparation stage ?

The offence punishable at the preparation stage is dacoity.Generally the law punishes attempts but not mere preparation. A few grave offences are exceptions, and section 399 IPC makes making preparation to commit dacoity punishable with rigorous imprisonment up to ten years and fine. Others include preparing to wage war against the Government of India (section 122) and making or possessing instruments for counterfeiting.Preparation to commit murder, theft or cheating is not an offence in itself; criminal liability begins only at the stage of attempt.

Q: Read Assertion (A) and Reason (R) and with the help of codes given below point out the correct explanation.Assertion (A) : In theft the property is taken out of the possession of another person and the offence is complete as soon as the property is moved.Reason (R) : In criminal misappropriation there is no invasion of another's possession. The property often comes innocently or casualty into possession.

Both are individually true and (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).The Assertion states the law of theft under Section 378 IPC: the property must be moved out of another's possession, and the offence is complete the moment it is moved with dishonest intention. The Reason states the law of criminal misappropriation under Section 403: the property comes into the accused's possession innocently or casually, and the offence lies in later dishonest conversion, with no invasion of possession.Both are true, but the Reason describes a different offence and does not explain why theft is complete on moving, so option A fails. The options calling either statement false are wrong.

Q: 'A' makes an attempt to steal some jewels by breaking open a box, and finds after so opening the box, that there is no jewel in it.

'A' is guilty for attempt to commit theft.This is the illustration (a) to section 511 IPC. Breaking open the box is an act done towards stealing, and the attempt is complete once he does that act with intent to steal. That the box turns out to be empty does not save him: impossibility of the object does not excuse an attempt.He is not guilty of theft, because nothing was taken. 'No offence' ignores section 511, and conspiracy needs an agreement between two or more persons, which a single person acting alone does not have.

Q: 'A' meets 'B' on high roads, shows a pistol and demands B's purse. 'B' in consequence, surrenders his purse. Here 'A' has committed :

A has committed robbery.This is an illustration to Section 390 of the IPC. A obtains the purse by putting B in fear of instant hurt, which is extortion, and because A is present and the fear is of instant hurt at the time, the extortion amounts to robbery.It is not mere theft, because B hands the purse over through fear rather than A taking it without consent. It is more than plain extortion because of the presence and instant fear. Dacoity requires five or more persons committing robbery together, and A acts alone.

Q: A meets Z on the high road, shows a pistol, and demands Z's purse. Z, in consequence, surrenders his purse. A has therefore committed

A has committed robbery.This is an illustration to the BNS section on robbery. A obtains the purse by putting Z in fear of instant hurt, which is extortion, but extortion becomes robbery when the offender, at the time of committing it, is in the presence of the person put in fear and puts him in fear of instant death, hurt or wrongful restraint. A, standing before Z with a pistol, meets every element.It is not mere theft, because Z handed over the purse under fear rather than A taking it without consent. It is more than plain extortion because of the immediate presence and threat. It is not dacoity, which requires five or more persons acting together.

Q: A new offence against property has been introduced in the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 which was previously not there under the Indian Penal Code, 1860. What is the offence ?

The new offence is Snatching.Section 304 of the BNS makes snatching a separate offence: theft becomes snatching when, to commit it, the offender suddenly, quickly or forcibly seizes, grabs or takes away movable property from a person or from his possession. It is punishable with up to three years' imprisonment and fine. The IPC had no such offence, so chain and bag snatching was charged as theft or robbery.Lurking house-trespass and receiving stolen property were already offences under the IPC (Sections 443 and 411), so 'All of these' is wrong.

Q: A meets Z on a public road, shows him a pistol, and demands his purse. Out of fear, Z hands over his purse immediately. A was present during the act and used the threat of instant harm to obtain the purse. What offence has A committed ?

A has committed Robbery.Taking property by putting someone in fear of injury is extortion. Under Section 309 of the BNS, extortion becomes robbery when the offender, at the time of the extortion, is in the presence of the person put in fear and commits it by putting that person in fear of instant death, instant hurt or instant wrongful restraint. The facts are the Sanhita's own illustration: A shows Z a pistol on the road and Z hands over his purse.It is not mere extortion, because of A's presence and the threat of instant harm; not theft, since the property was handed over under fear rather than taken without consent; and criminal intimidation does not involve obtaining property.

Pursuant to the definition provided in Section 378 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), 1860, which of the following constitutes an essential element of the offence of 'Theft' ?

A.The requirement that the property must be removed from a public location exclusively
B.The unauthorized movement of immovable property without the owner's consent
C.The employment of physical force or criminal violence against a person
D.The movement of movable property out of a person's possession without their consent

Exam Year(s)

AIBE - 2026,

Answer: D

The essential element is the movement of movable property out of a person's possession without their consent.

Section 378 IPC defines theft as the dishonest taking of any movable property out of the possession of any person without that person's consent, by moving it in order to take it. Dishonest intention, movable property, possession of another, absence of consent and moving the property are its ingredients.

Immovable property cannot be the subject of theft. No force or violence is required; using force to commit theft is what turns it into robbery. And the property can be taken from anywhere, not only a public place.

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Which of the following is not an essential element of Theft U/S 378 of IPC.

A.Dishonest intention to take property out of that person’s possession
B.The property must be moveable
C.Take possession with the consent of owner
D.Moving property in order to such taking

Exam Year(s)

MH SET - 2018, SET Exam - 2018,

Answer: C

The element that is not part of theft is taking possession with the consent of the owner.

Section 378 of the IPC defines theft as taking, with dishonest intention, any movable property out of the possession of any person without that person's consent, by moving the property in order to such taking. Its ingredients are dishonest intention, movable property, taking out of another's possession, absence of consent, and moving the property for the taking.

Taking with the owner's consent is the opposite of what the section requires. The other three options state genuine ingredients: dishonest intention, movable property, and moving the property in order to take it.

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Which of the following offences is punishable at preparation stage ?

A.Murder
B.Theft
C.Cheating
D.Dacoity

Exam Year(s)

MH SET - 2020, SET Exam - 2020,

Answer: D

The offence punishable at the preparation stage is dacoity.

Generally the law punishes attempts but not mere preparation. A few grave offences are exceptions, and section 399 IPC makes making preparation to commit dacoity punishable with rigorous imprisonment up to ten years and fine. Others include preparing to wage war against the Government of India (section 122) and making or possessing instruments for counterfeiting.

Preparation to commit murder, theft or cheating is not an offence in itself; criminal liability begins only at the stage of attempt.

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Read Assertion (A) and Reason (R) and with the help of codes given below point out the correct explanation.

Assertion (A) : In theft the property is taken out of the possession of another person and the offence is complete as soon as the property is moved.
Reason (R) : In criminal misappropriation there is no invasion of another's possession. The property often comes innocently or casualty into possession.

A.Both (A) and (R) are individually true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A)
B.Both (A) and (R) are individually true and (R) is not the correct explanation of (A)
C.(A) is true but (R) is false
D.(A) is false but (R) is true

Exam Year(s)

MH SET - 2021, SET Exam - 2021,

Answer: B

Both are individually true and (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).

The Assertion states the law of theft under Section 378 IPC: the property must be moved out of another's possession, and the offence is complete the moment it is moved with dishonest intention. The Reason states the law of criminal misappropriation under Section 403: the property comes into the accused's possession innocently or casually, and the offence lies in later dishonest conversion, with no invasion of possession.

Both are true, but the Reason describes a different offence and does not explain why theft is complete on moving, so option A fails. The options calling either statement false are wrong.

Discuss in Forum

'A' makes an attempt to steal some jewels by breaking open a box, and finds after so opening the box, that there is no jewel in it.

A.'A' has not committed any offence
B.'A' is guilty of offence of theft
C.'A' is guilty for attempt to commit theft
D.'A' is guilty for conspiracy to commit theft

Exam Year(s)

MH SET - 2023, SET Exam - 2023,

Answer: C

'A' is guilty for attempt to commit theft.

This is the illustration (a) to section 511 IPC. Breaking open the box is an act done towards stealing, and the attempt is complete once he does that act with intent to steal. That the box turns out to be empty does not save him: impossibility of the object does not excuse an attempt.

He is not guilty of theft, because nothing was taken. 'No offence' ignores section 511, and conspiracy needs an agreement between two or more persons, which a single person acting alone does not have.

Discuss in Forum

'A' meets 'B' on high roads, shows a pistol and demands B's purse. 'B' in consequence, surrenders his purse. Here 'A' has committed :

A.Theft
B.Extortion
C.Robbery
D.Dacoity

Exam Year(s)

MH SET - 2025, SET Exam - 2025,

Answer: C

A has committed robbery.

This is an illustration to Section 390 of the IPC. A obtains the purse by putting B in fear of instant hurt, which is extortion, and because A is present and the fear is of instant hurt at the time, the extortion amounts to robbery.

It is not mere theft, because B hands the purse over through fear rather than A taking it without consent. It is more than plain extortion because of the presence and instant fear. Dacoity requires five or more persons committing robbery together, and A acts alone.

Discuss in Forum

A meets Z on the high road, shows a pistol, and demands Z's purse. Z, in consequence, surrenders his purse. A has therefore committed

A.theft
B.extortion
C.robbery
D.dacoity

Exam Year(s)

Tripura Public Service Commission - 2025,

Answer: C

A has committed robbery.

This is an illustration to the BNS section on robbery. A obtains the purse by putting Z in fear of instant hurt, which is extortion, but extortion becomes robbery when the offender, at the time of committing it, is in the presence of the person put in fear and puts him in fear of instant death, hurt or wrongful restraint. A, standing before Z with a pistol, meets every element.

It is not mere theft, because Z handed over the purse under fear rather than A taking it without consent. It is more than plain extortion because of the immediate presence and threat. It is not dacoity, which requires five or more persons acting together.

Discuss in Forum

A new offence against property has been introduced in the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 which was previously not there under the Indian Penal Code, 1860. What is the offence ?

A.Lurking house trespass
B.Receiving stolen property
C.Snatching
D.All of these

Exam Year(s)

Tripura Public Service Commission - 2025,

Answer: C

The new offence is Snatching.

Section 304 of the BNS makes snatching a separate offence: theft becomes snatching when, to commit it, the offender suddenly, quickly or forcibly seizes, grabs or takes away movable property from a person or from his possession. It is punishable with up to three years' imprisonment and fine. The IPC had no such offence, so chain and bag snatching was charged as theft or robbery.

Lurking house-trespass and receiving stolen property were already offences under the IPC (Sections 443 and 411), so 'All of these' is wrong.

Discuss in Forum

A meets Z on a public road, shows him a pistol, and demands his purse. Out of fear, Z hands over his purse immediately. A was present during the act and used the threat of instant harm to obtain the purse. What offence has A committed ?

A.Theft
B.Criminal intimidation
C.Extortion
D.Robbery

Exam Year(s)

Tripura Public Service Commission - 2025,

Answer: D

A has committed Robbery.

Taking property by putting someone in fear of injury is extortion. Under Section 309 of the BNS, extortion becomes robbery when the offender, at the time of the extortion, is in the presence of the person put in fear and commits it by putting that person in fear of instant death, instant hurt or instant wrongful restraint. The facts are the Sanhita's own illustration: A shows Z a pistol on the road and Z hands over his purse.

It is not mere extortion, because of A's presence and the threat of instant harm; not theft, since the property was handed over under fear rather than taken without consent; and criminal intimidation does not involve obtaining property.

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10.

Principle : Theft + Violence or Threat to violence = Robbery.

Facts : M meets B and her child on a river bridge. M takes the child and threatens to fling it down to the river unless B delivers her purse. B in consequence delivers her purse.

What offence 'M' has committed ?

A.M is liable for theft.
B.M is liable for coercion.
C.M is liable for robbery.
D.M is liable for extortion.

Exam Year(s)

UGC NET - 2012,

Answer: C

M is liable for robbery, option C. Robbery under Section 390 of the Indian Penal Code is theft, or extortion, accompanied by putting a person in fear of instant hurt. M takes the child and threatens to fling it into the river unless B hands over her purse, so M puts B in fear of instant hurt to her child in order to get the purse, and B delivers it. That is extortion in the presence of an instant threat, which the Code treats as robbery. Theft (A) is not enough because the purse was obtained by threat, coercion (B) is not the offence the Code names, and extortion (D) alone does not state the offence, because the threat of instant hurt raises it to robbery.

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Theft, Extortion, Robbery and Dacoity Questions and Answers

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