BNS Section 140 — Kidnapping or abducting in order to murder or for ransom, etc
CHAPTER VI OF OFFENCES AFFECTING THE HUMAN BODY — Of kidnapping, abduction, slavery and forced labour
Criminal
Summary
Sub-section (1) covers kidnapping or abducting someone with the purpose that the person may be murdered, or may be left in a situation where they are in danger of being murdered. The punishment for this is imprisonment for life, or rigorous imprisonment for up to ten years, along with a fine.
The first illustration gives the example of a person who kidnaps someone from India, intending or knowing it is likely that the victim may be sacrificed to an idol. This is treated as an offence under this section.
The second illustration gives the example of a person who forcibly carries or entices someone away from their home so that the person may be murdered. This is also treated as an offence under this section.
Sub-section (2) covers kidnapping or abducting a person, or keeping a person in detention after such kidnapping or abduction, and then threatening to cause death or hurt to that person, or behaving in a way that creates a reasonable fear that the person may be put to death or hurt, or actually causing hurt or death to that person. This is done to compel the Government, any foreign State, any international inter-governmental organisation, or any other person to do something, to stop doing something, or to pay a ransom. The punishment for this is death or imprisonment for life, along with a fine.
Sub-section (3) covers kidnapping or abducting a person with the intention of having that person secretly and wrongfully confined. The punishment for this is imprisonment of either description for up to seven years, along with a fine.
Sub-section (4) covers kidnapping or abducting a person so that the person may be subjected to, or left in danger of being subjected to, grievous hurt, slavery, or the unnatural lust of any person. It also covers doing so while knowing it is likely that the person will be subjected to or disposed of in such a way. The punishment for this is imprisonment of either description for up to ten years, along with a fine.
Official Text
(1) Whoever kidnaps or abducts any person in order that such person may be murdered or may be so disposed of as to be put in danger of being murdered, shall be punished with imprisonment for life or rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.
Illustrations.
(a) A kidnaps Z from India, intending or knowing it to be likely that Z may be sacrificed to an idol. A has committed the offence defined in this section.
(b) A forcibly carries or entices B away from his home in order that B may be murdered. A has committed the offence defined in this section.
(2) Whoever kidnaps or abducts any person or keeps a person in detention after such kidnapping or abduction, and threatens to cause death or hurt to such person, or by his conduct gives rise to a reasonable apprehension that such person may be put to death or hurt, or causes hurt or death to such person in order to compel the Government or any foreign State or international inter-governmental organisation or any other person to do or abstain from doing any act or to pay a ransom, shall be punishable with death, or imprisonment for life, and shall also be liable to fine.
(3) Whoever kidnaps or abducts any person with intent to cause that person to be secretly and wrongfully confined, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.
(4) Whoever kidnaps or abducts any person in order that such person may be subjected, or may be so disposed of as to be put in danger of being subjected to grievous hurt, or slavery, or to the unnatural lust of any person, or knowing it to be likely that such person will be so subjected or disposed of, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten 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.6 p.280 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
- NEERAJ SHARMA v. STATE OF CHHATTISGARH — Supreme Court of India (2024)
- S.C.R. RAVI DHINGRA v. THE STATE OF HARYANA — Supreme Court of India (2023)
- SUNDARARAJAN v. STATE BY INSPECTOR 31 OF POLICE — Supreme Court of India (2013)
- I SHYAM BABU & ORS v. STATE OF HARYANA 1027 — Supreme Court of India (2008)
- SC (2024) Vol.6 p.129 — Supreme Court of India (2024)