Indian Penal Code, 1860
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 carving away
or attempting to carry away property obtained by the theft, the offender, 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 roads, shows a pistol, and demands Z's
purse. Z in consequence, surrenders 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 fling 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, and punishable as such; but it is not robbery,
unless Z is put in fear of the instant death of his child.