Section 254 BNS: Penalty for harbouring robbers or dacoits

Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023

Section 254 BNS at a Glance

Section 254 BNS deals with penalty for harbouring robbers or dacoits. It is bailable and cognizable, triable by Magistrate of the first class; it replaced Section 216A IPC on 1 July 2024.

Punishment

Rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years.

Bailable ⓘCognizable ⓘNon-Compoundable ⓘ🏛️ Magistrate of the first class ⓘ
IPC Equivalent

Section 216A →

Section 254 BNS Bare Act Text

254. Penalty for harbouring robbers or dacoits

Whoever, knowing or having reason to believe that any persons are about to commit or have recently committed robbery or dacoity, harbours them or any of them, with the intention of facilitating the commission of such robbery or dacoity, or of screening them or any of them from punishment, shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.

Explanation

For the purposes of this section it is immaterial whether the robbery or dacoity is intended to be committed, or has been committed, within or without India.

Exception.—The provisions of this section do not extend to the case in which the harbour is by the spouse of the offender.

Source: Section 254, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023

Section 254 BNS in Simple Words

Section 254 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) deals with a person who, knowing or having reason to believe that any persons are about to commit or have recently committed robbery or dacoity, harbours them or any of them with the intention of facilitating the commission of such robbery or dacoity, or of screening them from punishment.

Knowledge and intention are essential. This section targets the support network around robbery and dacoity, both before the crime is committed and immediately afterwards. Under the Explanation, it does not matter whether the robbery or dacoity is intended to be committed, or has been committed, within or outside India.

A person convicted under this provision faces rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years and is also liable to fine. However, the section does not apply where the harbouring is by the spouse of the offender.

Ingredients of Section 254 BNS

  • Knowledge or reason to believe that persons are about to commit or have recently committed robbery or dacoity
  • Harbouring those persons or any of them
  • Intention of facilitating the robbery or dacoity, or screening them from punishment
  • The act not being harbouring by the spouse of the offender

Punishment Under Section 254 BNS

Imprisonment

Rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years.

Fine

The offender is also liable to fine in addition to mandatory rigorous imprisonment.

Bailable ⓘCognizable ⓘNon-Compoundable ⓘ🏛️ Magistrate of the first class ⓘ

Harbouring robbers or dacoits with intent to facilitate the crime or screen them from punishment carries rigorous imprisonment for up to seven years and liability to fine.

Example of Section 254 BNS

Three men commit an armed robbery at a jewellery store on the highway near Ujjain. Immediately after the crime, they arrive at the farm of Manjeet. Manjeet knows that the men have just committed the robbery and conceals them in his barn to screen them from punishment. Manjeet is not married to any of the robbers. Manjeet is liable under Section 254 BNS.

When Section 254 BNS Does Not Apply

  • The accused did not know and had no reason to believe that the persons were about to commit or had recently committed robbery or dacoity
  • The accused did not harbour the persons, or did not act with the intention of facilitating the robbery or dacoity or screening them from punishment
  • The harbour was by the spouse of the offender

Section 254 BNS in the IPC (Previous Law)

Section 254 BNS replaces Section 216A IPC from the old criminal code.

Section 216A IPC is now Section 254 BNS. The BNS retains the statutory definition, explanation and punishment, while replacing the words husband or wife in the exception with spouse.

View IPC Section 216A →

FAQs on Section 254 BNS

What does harbouring mean in Section 254 BNS?▼

Harbouring means giving shelter, hiding, or providing support to persons whom you know or have reason to believe are about to commit or have recently committed robbery or dacoity, when done to facilitate the crime or to screen them from punishment.

Under Section 254 BNS, is mere presence of a robber enough to make me guilty?▼

No. Mere presence is not enough. The prosecution must show that you knowingly harboured the persons with the intention of facilitating the robbery or dacoity or screening them from punishment.

Does Section 254 BNS apply if I did not know the person was a robber?▼

No. Knowledge or reason to believe that the persons are about to commit or have recently committed robbery or dacoity is a required ingredient of the offence.

What is the punishment and who is exempt under Section 254 BNS?▼

The punishment under Section 254 BNS is rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years, and the offender is also liable to fine. The section does not apply if the harbouring is by the spouse of the offender.

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Disclaimer: This is for informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified advocate for legal advice.

Sources: Bare Act Text, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 · Last updated: 16 Oct 2026 ·