BNSS Section 499 — Payment to innocent purchaser of money found on accused

Summary

When someone is convicted of theft or receiving stolen property, and it is shown that another person bought that stolen property from them without knowing or having reason to believe it was stolen, the court may help that buyer. If money was taken from the convicted person when they were arrested, the buyer can ask the court to be paid back from that money. The court can order that an amount up to what the buyer paid be given to them, but only if the buyer first returns the stolen property to its rightful owner. This payment must be made within six months from the date of the court’s order.

Official Text

When any person is convicted of any offence which includes, or amounts to, theft or receiving stolen property, and it is proved that any other person bought the stolen property from him without knowing or having reason to believe that the same was stolen, and that any money has on his arrest been taken out of the possession of the convicted person, the Court may, on the application of such purchaser and on the restitution of the stolen property to the person entitled to the possession thereof, order that out of such money a sum not exceeding the price paid by such purchaser be delivered to him within six months from the date of such order.

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)
• .. Petitioner/Accused No.12 vs The State of Tamilnadu, — Madras High Court ()
• SC (2024) Vol.12 p.335 — Supreme Court of India (2024)
• SC (2025) Vol.11 p.291 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
• SC (2025) Vol.2 p.1588 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
• SC (2025) Vol.1 p.1469 — Supreme Court of India (2025)

Old <-> New Code Mapping

• CrPC §453 — Payment to innocent purchaser of money found on accused