Section 413 IPC: Habitually dealing in stolen property

Indian Penal Code, 1860

Section 413 IPC at a Glance

Section 413 IPC deals with habitually dealing in stolen property. It is non-bailable and cognizable, triable by the Court of Session; from 1 July 2024 it is replaced by Section 317(4) BNS.

Punishment

Imprisonment for life, or imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years.

Non-Bailable ⓘCognizable ⓘNon-Compoundable ⓘ🏛️ Court of Session ⓘ
BNS Equivalent

Section 317(4) →

Section 413 IPC Bare Act Text

413. Habitually dealing in stolen property

Whoever habitually receives or deals in property which he knows or has reason to believe to be stolen property, shall be punished with imprisonment for life, or with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.

Source: Section 413, Indian Penal Code, 1860

Section 413 IPC in Simple Words

Section 413 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) punishes habitually receiving or dealing in stolen property. Whoever habitually receives or deals in property which he knows or has reason to believe to be stolen property is punished with imprisonment for life, or with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and is also liable to fine.

Under the First Schedule to the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, the offence is cognizable, non-bailable, and triable by the Court of Session. The offence is not compoundable under Section 320 CrPC.

Ingredients of Section 413 IPC

  • The property in question was stolen property within the meaning of Section 410 IPC
  • The accused habitually received or dealt in such property
  • The accused knew or had reason to believe that the property was stolen property

Punishment Under Section 413 IPC

Imprisonment

Imprisonment for life, or imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years.

Fine

The offender is also liable to fine. The statute does not prescribe a mandatory fine or fix a maximum amount.

Non-Bailable ⓘCognizable ⓘNon-Compoundable ⓘ🏛️ Court of Session ⓘ

Habitually receiving or dealing in stolen property carries imprisonment for life, or imprisonment of either description up to ten years, and liability to fine.

Example of Section 413 IPC

Throughout 2020, Naresh ran a scrap gold shop in Ludhiana where he repeatedly bought snatched gold chains and stolen watches from local pickpockets every week. In dozens of separate transactions, the sellers told Naresh that the ornaments and watches had been stolen from train passengers, and Naresh paid them a fraction of the gold's value before melting the items down and selling the gold bars to bullion traders. Naresh habitually received and dealt in property knowing it to be stolen property. Naresh is punishable under Section 413 IPC.

When Section 413 IPC Does Not Apply

  • Section 413 IPC does not apply when the accused received stolen goods on only a single occasion rather than as a habitual practice.
  • Section 413 IPC does not apply when the merchandise bought and sold by the trader was not stolen property.
  • Section 413 IPC does not apply when a dealer regularly bought second-hand goods in good faith without knowing or having reason to believe that they were stolen.
  • Section 413 IPC does not apply when the goods had already returned to the possession of their lawful owner before the dealer acquired them.

Section 413 IPC in the BNS

Section 413 IPC is now covered under Section 317(4) BNS.

Section 413 IPC corresponds to Section 317(4) BNS. Section 317(4) BNS reproduces the text and penalties of Section 413 IPC without substantive change, maintaining imprisonment for life, or imprisonment of either description for up to ten years, and liability to fine. The provision forms the fourth sub-section of consolidated Section 317(4) BNS. Because Section 317(1) BNS adds cheating to the definition of stolen property, habitual dealing in property obtained by cheating is now covered under Section 317(4) BNS.

View detailed comparison (IPC 413 vs BNS 317(4)) →

FAQs on Section 413 IPC

What does Section 413 IPC punish?▼

Section 413 IPC punishes whoever habitually receives or deals in property which he knows or has reason to believe to be stolen property.

What is the punishment under Section 413 IPC?▼

The punishment prescribed by Section 413 IPC is imprisonment for life, or imprisonment of either description for a term up to ten years, with liability to fine.

Is Section 413 IPC bailable and cognizable?▼

Under the First Schedule to the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, an offence under Section 413 IPC is cognizable and non-bailable, and is triable by the Court of Session.

Can an offence under Section 413 IPC be compounded?▼

No. Section 413 IPC is not listed in Section 320 CrPC, so it cannot be compounded.

How does Section 413 IPC differ from Section 411 IPC?▼

Section 411 IPC punishes a single act of dishonestly receiving or retaining stolen property with imprisonment up to three years, whereas Section 413 IPC targets habitual receiving or dealing and carries imprisonment for life or up to ten years.

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Sources: Bare Act Text, Indian Penal Code, 1860 · Last updated: 16 Oct 2026 ·