Section 181 CrPC: Place of trial in case of certain offences

Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973

Section 181 CrPC at a Glance

Section 181 CrPC deals with place of trial in case of certain offences. From 1 July 2024 it is replaced by Section 201 BNSS.

Now BNSS

Section 201 →

What Section 181 CrPC Says

181. Place of trial in case of certain offences

(1) Any offence of being a thug, or murder committed by a thug, of dacoity, 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 is the 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.

Source: Section 181, Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973

Section 181 CrPC in Simple Words

Section 181 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 deals with the place of trial in case of certain offences.

Under Section 181(1) CrPC, any offence of being a thug, or murder committed by a thug, of dacoity, 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.

Section 181(2) CrPC to Section 181(5) CrPC deal with kidnapping or abduction of a person, theft, extortion or robbery, criminal misappropriation or criminal breach of trust, and an offence which includes the possession of stolen property.

When Section 181 CrPC Applies

  • Under Section 181(1) CrPC, any offence of being a thug, or murder committed by a thug, of dacoity, 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.
  • Under Section 181(2) CrPC, 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.
  • Under Section 181(3) CrPC, 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 is the 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.
  • Under Section 181(4) CrPC, 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.
  • Under Section 181(5) CrPC, 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.

Example of Section 181 CrPC

Ramesh commits robbery against Meera in Jaipur and takes a gold necklace. Ramesh carries the necklace to Ajmer and possesses it there. Ramesh then gives the necklace in Udaipur to Suresh, who received or retained the necklace having reason to believe it to be stolen property. Under Section 181(3) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, the robbery may be inquired into or tried by a Court within whose local jurisdiction the offence was committed, which is Jaipur, or the stolen property which is the subject of the offence was possessed by Ramesh, which is Ajmer, or by Suresh, who received or retained the necklace knowing or having reason to believe it to be stolen property, which is Udaipur.

When Section 181 CrPC Does Not Apply

  • Section 181(1) CrPC speaks of the offences listed in it, ending with escaping from custody. It does not deal with an offence committed on a journey or voyage, which is the subject of Section 183 CrPC.
  • Section 181(2) CrPC speaks of an offence of kidnapping or abduction of a person. It does not deal with an offence committed by letters, which is the subject of Section 182 CrPC.
  • Section 181 CrPC speaks of the place of trial in case of certain offences. It does not deal with the ordinary place of inquiry and trial, which is the subject of Section 177 CrPC.

Section 181 CrPC Under BNSS 201: What Changed

Section 181 CrPC is now covered under Section 201 BNSS.

Section 201 BNSS has the same heading as Section 181 CrPC, Place of trial in case of certain offences. Section 201(1) BNSS has no counterpart to the words of being a thug, or murder committed by a thug, which Section 181(1) CrPC contained. Section 201(2) BNSS to Section 201(5) BNSS have the same text as Section 181(2) CrPC to Section 181(5) CrPC.

View detailed comparison (CrPC 181 vs BNSS 201) →

FAQs on Section 181 CrPC

Which Courts may inquire into or try the offences in Section 181(1) CrPC and Section 181(2) CrPC?▼

Under Section 181(1) CrPC, any offence of being a thug, or murder committed by a thug, of dacoity, 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. Under Section 181(2) CrPC, 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.

Which Courts may inquire into or try theft, extortion or robbery, and offences which include the possession of stolen property, under Section 181 CrPC?▼

Under Section 181(3) CrPC, 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 is the 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. Under Section 181(5) CrPC, 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.

Which Courts may inquire into or try criminal misappropriation or criminal breach of trust under Section 181(4) CrPC?▼

Under Section 181(4) CrPC, 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.

Where is Section 181 CrPC found in the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023?▼

The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 was replaced by the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 from 1 July 2024. Section 181(1) CrPC is found in Section 201(1) BNSS, Section 181(2) CrPC in Section 201(2) BNSS, Section 181(3) CrPC in Section 201(3) BNSS, Section 181(4) CrPC in Section 201(4) BNSS and Section 181(5) CrPC in Section 201(5) BNSS.

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

Sources: Bare Act Text, Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 · Last updated: 21 Oct 2026 ·