390. Robbery : In all robbery there is either theft or extortion.
When theft is robbery: Theft is "robbery" if, in order to the committing of the theft, or in
committing the theft, or in carrying away or attempting to carry away property obtained by
the theft, the offence, for that end, voluntarily causes or attempts to cause to any person
death or hurt, or wrongful restraint, or fear of instant death or of instant hurt or of instant
wrongful restraint.
When extortion is robbery : Extortion is "robbery" if the offender, at the time of
committing the extortion, is in the presence of the person put in fear, and commits the
extortion by putting that person in fear of instant death, of instant hurt, or of instant
wrongful restraint to that person, or to some other person, and by so putting in fear;
induces the person so put in fear then and there to deliver up the thing extorted.
Explanation: The offender is said to be present if he is sufficiently near to put the other
person in fear of instant death, of instant hurt, or of instant wrongful restraint.
Illustrations
(a) A holds Z down, and fraudulently takes Z's money and jewels from Z's clothes, without
Z's consent. Here A has committed theft, and in order to the committing of that theft, has
voluntarily caused wrongful restraint to Z. A has therefore committed robbery;
(b) A meets Z on the high road, shows a pistol, and demands Z's purse. 2, in
consequence, surrender his purse. Here A has extorted the purse from Z by putting him in
fear of instant hurt and being at the time of committing the extortion in his presence." A
has therefore committed robbery.
(c) A meets Z and Z's child on the high road. A takes the child, and threatens to filing it
down a precipice, unless Z delivers his purse. Z, in consequence, delivers his purse. Here
A has extorted the purse from Z, by causing Z to be in fear of instant hurt to the child who
is there present, A has, therefore, committed robbery on Z.
(d) A obtains property from Z by saying Your child is in the hands of my gang, and will be
put to death unless you send us ten thousand rupees". This is extortion, punishable as
such; but it is not robbery, unless Z is put in fear of the instant death of his child.
391. Dacoity: When five or more persons conjointly commit or attempt to commit a
robbery, or where the whole number of persons conjointly committing or attempting to
commit a robbery and persons present and aiding such commission or attempt, amount to
five or more, every person so committing, attempting or aiding is said to commit "dacoity".
392. Punishment for robbery: Whoever commits robbery shall be punished with rigorous
imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than three years nor more than ten years,
and shall also be liable to fine ; and, if the robbery be committed on the highway the
imprisonment may be extended to fourteen years.