In robbery, we will
discuss about
- The meaning of robbery.
- Elements of robbery.
- When theft is robbery.
- When extortion is robbery.
- Punishments for robbery.
Meaning of Robbery
Robbery means the taking
of something of value, whether money or property, from someone through the use
of physical force.
So, if the offender takes
something of value which can be either money property from the victim, by using
or giving threat of physical force it will be considered as a robbery.
Elements of Robbery
From
the meaning of robbery we can say that there are four elements of robbery. If
all of the elements are present in an offence, that will be considered as a
robbery. These elements have been given in the following diagram.
When theft is robbery
Now
we know the meaning and elements of robbery. But the important fact is robbery
itself is not an independent offence. It is the aggravated form of theft or
extortion. Which means theft or extortion is the basic offence for robbery.
The
first sentence of section 390 of Penal Code (1860) says, in all robbery
there is either theft or extortion.
So,
when a theft or extortion turns into a violence form it will transform to a
robbery. To understand better about robbery we will now discuss about ‘’when
theft/extortion will be considered as a robbery.’’
Section
390
of Penal Code explains when theft is Robbery. It says, 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 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.
I
will simply explain this from the pictures I have added below.
In
the first picture, we can see a thief is entering into a house in order to
commit theft.
In
the second picture, the thief is committing the offence of theft.
And
in the third picture, the offender is carrying away the property obtained by
the theft.
Now,
if the offender normally does the acts of picture 1,2 and 3 we will name this
offence as a theft. But, in order to commit these acts, if the offender
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 as we can see in the fourth picture, the thief is using physical
force against the victim, the theft will be considered as a robbery.
When extortion is robbery:
According
to section 390, 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, 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.
So,
extortion will be considered as a robbery if the offender is in the presence of
the victim and puts the victim in an instant fear.
Now
a question can arise when the offender is said to be present?
Section
390
explains that, 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.
So, extortion with instant fear is called robbery.
Punishments of robbery:
Section
392:
Whoever commits robbery shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment for a term
which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine. But, if the
robbery be committed on the highway between sunset and sunrise, the imprisonment
may be extended to fourteen years.
As
we can see in the first picture, the offender is committing a bank robbery in
day light. Here the term of his rigorous imprisonment may extend to ten years
and shall also be liable to fine.
And
in the second picture, offenders are committing robbery on a highway also at
night. So, here the imprisonment may be extended to fourteen years.
Punishments of robbery:
· Attempt
to commit robbery:
Section
393:
Whoever attempts to commit robbery shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment
for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.
· Voluntarily
causing hurt in committing robbery:
SECTION
394:
If any person, in committing or in attempting to commit robbery, voluntarily
causes hurt, such person, and any other person jointly concerned in committing
or attempting to commit such robbery shall be punished with imprisonment for
life, or with rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to ten years,
and shall also be liable to fine.
· Punishment for
belonging to gang of thieves:
SECTION
401:
Whoever, at any time after the passing of this Act, shall belong to any
wandering or other gang of persons associated for the purpose of habitually
committing theft or robbery, and not being a gang of thugs or dacoits, shall be
punished with rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years,
and shall also be liable to fine.