Section 414 IPC: Assisting in concealment of stolen property

Indian Penal Code, 1860

Section 414 IPC at a Glance

Section 414 IPC deals with assisting in concealment of stolen property. It is non-bailable and cognizable, triable by any Magistrate; from 1 July 2024 it is replaced by Section 317(5) BNS.

Punishment

Imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years.

Non-Bailable ⓘCognizable ⓘCompoundable ⓘ🏛️ Any Magistrate ⓘ
BNS Equivalent

Section 317(5) →

Section 414 IPC Bare Act Text

414. Assisting in concealment of stolen property

Whoever voluntarily assists in concealing or disposing of or making away with property which he knows or has reason to believe to be stolen property, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.

Source: Section 414, Indian Penal Code, 1860

Section 414 IPC in Simple Words

Section 414 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) punishes voluntarily assisting in the concealment or disposal of stolen property. Whoever voluntarily assists in concealing or disposing of or making away with property which he knows or has reason to believe to be stolen property is punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.

Under the First Schedule to the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, the offence is cognizable, non-bailable, and triable by any Magistrate. The offence is compoundable without the permission of the court by the owner of the stolen property under Section 320(1) CrPC.

Ingredients of Section 414 IPC

  • The property in question was stolen property within the statutory definition
  • The accused voluntarily assisted in concealing, disposing of, or making away with that property
  • The accused knew or had reason to believe that the property was stolen property

Punishment Under Section 414 IPC

Imprisonment

Imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years.

Fine

The court may impose fine alone, or fine in addition to imprisonment.

Non-Bailable ⓘCognizable ⓘCompoundable ⓘ🏛️ Any Magistrate ⓘ

Voluntarily assisting in concealing, disposing of, or making away with stolen property carries imprisonment of either description up to three years, or fine, or both.

Example of Section 414 IPC

In 2022, Naveen stole four sandalwood logs from a forest depot in Mysuru and brought them to his cousin Girish's carpentry workshop. Naveen informed Girish that the sandalwood logs had been stolen from the depot that afternoon. Girish voluntarily helped Naveen bury two of the logs under a pile of sawdust in the backyard and introduced Naveen to an unrecorded buyer who purchased and carried away the remaining logs. Girish voluntarily assisted in concealing, disposing of, and making away with property knowing it to be stolen property. Girish is punishable under Section 414 IPC.

When Section 414 IPC Does Not Apply

  • Section 414 IPC does not apply when the property being moved or stored is not stolen property.
  • Section 414 IPC does not apply when a person helped store or sell goods without knowing or having any reason to believe that they were stolen.
  • Section 414 IPC does not apply when the accused took no voluntary part in hiding, disposing of, or making away with the stolen goods.
  • Section 414 IPC does not apply when the property had already returned to the possession of its lawful owner before the assistance was given.

Section 414 IPC in the BNS

Section 414 IPC is now covered under Section 317(5) BNS.

Section 414 IPC corresponds to Section 317(5) BNS. Section 317(5) BNS reproduces the text and punishment of Section 414 IPC without substantive change, providing imprisonment of either description for up to three years, or fine, or both. The provision forms the fifth sub-section of consolidated Section 317(5) BNS. Because Section 317(1) BNS adds cheating to the definition of stolen property, assisting in concealing or disposing of property obtained by cheating now falls within Section 317(5) BNS.

View detailed comparison (IPC 414 vs BNS 317(5)) →

FAQs on Section 414 IPC

What does Section 414 IPC punish?▼

Section 414 IPC punishes whoever voluntarily assists in concealing or disposing of or making away with property which he knows or has reason to believe to be stolen property.

What is the punishment under Section 414 IPC?▼

The punishment under Section 414 IPC is imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.

Is Section 414 IPC bailable and cognizable?▼

Under the First Schedule to the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, an offence under Section 414 IPC is cognizable and non-bailable, and is triable by any Magistrate.

Can an offence under Section 414 IPC be compounded?▼

Yes. Under Section 320(1) CrPC, an offence under Section 414 IPC can be compounded without court permission by the owner of the property stolen.

Does Section 414 IPC require possession of the stolen goods?▼

No. Section 414 IPC does not require the accused to receive or retain possession; voluntary assistance in concealing, disposing of, or making away with the property suffices.

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

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