BNS Section 112 — Petty organised crime

CHAPTER VI OF OFFENCES AFFECTING THE HUMAN BODY — Of offences affecting life

Criminal

Summary

Sub-section (1) defines petty organised crime. A person commits it if they are a member of a group or gang and, either alone or with others, carry out any act of theft, snatching, cheating, unauthorised selling of tickets, unauthorised betting or gambling, selling of public examination question papers, or any other similar criminal act.

The Explanation attached to sub-section (1) clarifies that, for this definition, the word theft includes trick theft, theft from a vehicle, dwelling house or business premises, cargo theft, pick pocketing, theft through card skimming, shoplifting, and theft of an Automated Teller Machine.

Sub-section (2) sets out the punishment. Anyone who commits petty organised crime shall be punished with imprisonment for a term of not less than one year, which may extend up to seven years, and shall also be liable to a fine.

Official Text

(1) Whoever, being a member of a group or gang, either singly or jointly, commits any act of theft, snatching, cheating, unauthorised selling of tickets, unauthorised betting or gambling, selling of public examination question papers or any other similar criminal act, is said to commit petty organised crime.

Explanation.—For the purposes of this sub-section “theft” includes trick theft, theft from vehicle, dwelling house or business premises, cargo theft, pick pocketing, theft through card skimming, shoplifting and theft of Automated Teller Machine.

(2) Whoever commits any petty organised crime shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than one year but which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.

Related Judgments

  • SC (2025) Vol.3 p.1309 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
  • SC (2025) Vol.11 p.291 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
  • SC (2025) Vol.3 p.1531 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
  • SC (2025) Vol.6 p.280 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
  • SC (2025) Vol.7 p.105 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
  • SC (2024) Vol.8 p.670 — Supreme Court of India (2024)
  • SC (2024) Vol.6 p.129 — Supreme Court of India (2024)
  • SC (2025) Vol.4 p.2730 — Supreme Court of India (2025)