Section 310 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) defines dacoity as a robbery committed by five or more persons acting together.
It includes those who commit, attempt to commit, or aid in the commission of robbery when the total number of offenders reaches five or more.
Punishment:
Whoever commits dacoity shall be punished with imprisonment for life, or rigorous imprisonment for up to ten years, and shall also be liable to a fine.
If, during the commission of dacoity, any one of the offenders commits murder, all members of the group shall face death penalty, life imprisonment, or rigorous imprisonment for a minimum of ten years, along with a fine.
How It Protects:
This section provides harsh penalties for organized robbery, ensuring that large-scale crimes involving multiple offenders are strictly punished.
It also holds all members of the group accountable, even if only one among them commits a violent act.
By criminalizing even preparation for dacoity, it deters individuals from forming criminal gangs and conspiring to commit such offenses.
Example:
If five or more people jointly rob a bank, all involved are guilty of dacoity.
Similarly, if a group commits robbery on a highway, or if one member kills a person during the act, all participants face the same severe punishment.
