BNS Section 118 — Voluntarily causing hurt or grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means
CHAPTER VI OF OFFENCES AFFECTING THE HUMAN BODY — Of hurt
Criminal
Punishment
Imprisonment up to 3 years, or fine up to ₹20,000, or both
As the section puts it: “shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine which may extend to twenty thousand rupees, or with both”
Summary
Sub-section (1) covers causing hurt (not grievous hurt) using dangerous means. These means include any instrument for shooting, stabbing, or cutting; any instrument used as a weapon of offence that is likely to cause death; fire or any heated substance; any poison or corrosive substance; any explosive substance; any substance that is harmful to inhale, swallow, or receive into the blood; or any animal. The punishment for this is imprisonment of either description for up to three years, or a fine of up to twenty thousand rupees, or both. This sub-section does not apply to the case covered by sub-section (1) of section 122.
Sub-section (2) covers voluntarily causing grievous hurt using any of the means listed in sub-section (1). The punishment for this is imprisonment for life, or imprisonment of either description for a term of not less than one year but which may extend to ten years, and the offender shall also be liable to a fine. This sub-section does not apply to the case covered by sub-section (2) of section 122.
Official Text
(1) Whoever, except in the case provided for by sub-section (1) of section 122, voluntarily causes hurt by means of any instrument for shooting, stabbing or cutting, or any instrument which, used as a weapon of offence, is likely to cause death, or by means of fire or any heated substance, or by means of any poison or any corrosive substance, or by means of any explosive substance, or by means of any substance which it is deleterious to the human body to inhale, to swallow, or to receive into the blood, or by means of any animal, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine which may extend to twenty thousand rupees, or with both.
(2) Whoever, except in the case provided for by sub-section (2) of section 122, voluntarily causes grievous hurt by any means referred to in sub-section (1), shall be punished with imprisonment for life, or with imprisonment of either description for a term which shall not be less than one year but which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.
Sections referred to
Referred to by
Related Judgments
- Pankaj Bhagwan Chavan vs The State of Maharashtra & Ors — Bombay High Court (Mumbai Principal Seat) (2025)
- ANTICIPATORY BAIL APPLICATION NO. 3057 OF 2024; Ramesh Govind Khadkar; vs The State of Maharashtra — Bombay High Court (Mumbai Principal Seat) (2024)
- MARUTI LAXMAN TOKARE vs STATE OF MAHARASHTRA — Bombay High Court (Mumbai Principal Seat) (2025)
- ANTICIPATORY BAIL APPLICATION NO. 2765 OF 2024; Maruti Laxman Tokare vs The State of Maharashtra, …, Ms. Shivani Sunil Kondekar for applicant — Bombay High Court (Mumbai Principal Seat) (2024)
- The Hon’ble Justice Jay Sengupta; C.R.R. 1510 of 2025; Arjun Singh vs State of West Bengal and Others., With, WPA 7369 of 2025, Arjun Singh — Calcutta High Court (Kolkata Principal Seat) (2025)
- 15.07.2026; Sl. 5; AMR; Ct.No. 237; CRR 4034 of 2025; Tarun Kumar Tiwa vs The State of West Bengal & Anr., Mr. Anirban Dutta, Mr. Abhinav Raksh — Calcutta High Court (Kolkata Principal Seat) (2026)
