Section 155 BNS: Receiving property taken by war or depredation mentioned in sections 153 and 154
Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
Section 155 BNS at a Glance
Section 155 BNS deals with receiving property taken by war or depredation mentioned in sections 153 and 154. It is non-bailable and cognizable, triable by the Court of Session; it replaced Section 127 IPC on 1 July 2024.
Imprisonment of either description for up to seven years.
Section 155 BNS Bare Act Text
155. Receiving property taken by war or depredation mentioned in sections 125 and 126
Whoever receives any property knowing the same to have been taken in the commission of any of the offences mentioned in sections 153 and 154, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine and to forfeiture of the property so received.
Source: Section 155, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
Section 155 BNS in Simple Words
Section 155 BNS of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) deals with a person who receives any property knowing that it was taken in the commission of any of the offences mentioned in Sections 153 and 154 BNS, namely waging war or committing depredation against a foreign State at peace with the Government of India. The law targets people who help keep such property in circulation after it has been unlawfully taken in the course of hostilities or raids.
This section applies to anyone who receives the property knowing that it was taken in the commission of an offence under Section 153 BNS or Section 154 BNS. In practice, the prosecution must show both that the property was taken in such an offence and that the accused had actual knowledge of its unlawful origin when receiving it.
Ingredients of Section 155 BNS
- Receiving property
- Knowledge that the property was taken in an offence mentioned in Section 153 BNS or Section 154 BNS
Punishment Under Section 155 BNS
Imprisonment of either description for up to seven years.
The offender is also liable to fine and to forfeiture of the property so received.
Receiving property taken by war or depredation carries imprisonment of up to seven years, fine and forfeiture of the property.
Example of Section 155 BNS
When Section 155 BNS Does Not Apply
- The accused did not know that the property had been taken in an offence mentioned in Section 153 BNS or Section 154 BNS
- The property had been taken in some other offence, such as theft
- The accused never received the property
Section 155 BNS in the IPC (Previous Law)
Section 155 BNS replaces Section 127 IPC from the old criminal code.
Section 127 IPC is now Section 155 BNS, with the same words and the same punishment. The only change is that Section 155 BNS refers to Sections 153 and 154 BNS, the offences that replace Sections 125 and 126 IPC.
View IPC Section 127 →FAQs on Section 155 BNS
What kind of property does Section 155 BNS cover?▼
It covers property taken in the commission of any of the offences mentioned in Sections 153 and 154 BNS, which deal with waging war or committing depredation on a foreign State at peace with the Government of India. If the property came from such unlawful taking and the accused knew it when receiving the property, this section applies.
Under Section 155 BNS, does the prosecution need to prove actual knowledge?▼
Yes, knowledge that the property was taken in an offence under Section 153 BNS or Section 154 BNS is essential. Mere possession is not enough by itself. The court looks at the surrounding facts to see whether the accused knew of the unlawful origin of the property.
What is the punishment under Section 155 BNS?▼
The punishment is imprisonment of either description for up to 7 years, and also fine and forfeiture of the property so received.
Does Section 155 BNS apply under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita?▼
Yes. The provision is enacted as Section 155 BNS in the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and applies to receiving property known to have been taken in offences under Sections 153 and 154 BNS.
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Sources: Bare Act Text, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 · Last updated: 16 Oct 2026 ·