BNSS Section 201 — Place of trial in case of certain offences

Summary

For certain serious crimes, the law allows a court to hear the case either where the crime happened or where the accused person is found. This applies to dacoity (gang robbery), dacoity with murder, belonging to a gang of dacoits, or escaping from custody. For kidnapping or abduction, the case can be heard where the person was taken, moved, hidden, or kept. For theft, extortion, or robbery, the case can be heard where the crime happened or where the stolen property was held by the offender or by someone who knew or had reason to believe it was stolen. For criminal misappropriation or breach of trust, the case can be heard where the crime happened or where any part of the property was received, kept, or should have been returned or accounted for by the accused. For any offence involving possession of stolen property, the case can be heard where the crime happened or where the stolen property was held by someone who knew or had reason to believe it was stolen.

Official Text

(1) Any offence of dacoity, or of dacoity with murder, of belonging to a gang of dacoits, or of escaping from custody, may be inquired into or tried by a Court within whose local jurisdiction the offence was committed or the accused person is found.

(2) Any offence of kidnapping or abduction of a person may be inquired into or tried by a Court within whose local jurisdiction the person was kidnapped or abducted or was conveyed or concealed or detained.

(3) Any offence of theft, extortion or robbery may be inquired into or tried by a Court within whose local jurisdiction the offence was committed or the stolen property which isthe subject of the offence was possessed by any person committing it or by any person who received or retained such property knowing or having reason to believe it to be stolen property.

(4) Any offence of criminal misappropriation or of criminal breach of trust may be inquired into or tried by a Court within whose local jurisdiction the offence was committed or any part of the property which is the subject of the offence was received or retained, or was required to be returned or accounted for, by the accused person.

(5) Any offence which includes the possession of stolen property may be inquired into or tried by a Court within whose local jurisdiction the offence was committed or the stolen property was possessed by any person who received or retained it knowing or having reason to believe it to be stolen property.

Related Judgments

• SC (2025) Vol.5 p.730 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
• SC (2025) Vol.6 p.545 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
• SC (2024) Vol.7 p.979 — Supreme Court of India (2024)
• SC (2025) Vol.2 p.1588 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
• .. Petitioner/Accused No.12 vs The State of Tamilnadu, — Madras High Court ()
• SC (2025) Vol.11 p.291 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
• SC (2025) Vol.3 p.1309 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
• SC (2025) Vol.1 p.1469 — Supreme Court of India (2025)

Old <-> New Code Mapping

• CrPC §181 — Place of trial in case of certain offences