IPC Section 378 — Theft

offences against property theft

Criminal

Summary

A person commits theft if they intend to take someone else's movable property without that person's permission, and they actually move the property as part of that taking. The key elements are the dishonest intention to take the property and the act of moving it, even slightly, to carry out that intention.

Official Text

Whoever, intending to take dishonestly any movable property out of the possession of any person without that person’s consent, moves that property in order to such taking, is said to commit theft.

Related Provisions

theft

Related Judgments

  • AVTAR v. STATE — Supreme Court of India (1965)
  • .. Petitioners/A1 to A4 vs M/s.P.M.Associates — Madras High Court (2012)
  • ... Petitioners/Accused 1-4 vs 1. The State — Madras High Court (2013)
  • ... Petitioners/Accused 1-4 vs 1. The State — Madras High Court (2013)
  • SC (1957) Vol.1 p.623 — Supreme Court of India (1957)
  • S.C.R. 1063 STATE OF NCT OF DELHI v. SANJAY — Supreme Court of India (2014)
  • SC (2025) Vol.1 p.1909 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
  • RAM RATAN v. STATE — Supreme Court of India (1965)

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