K.N. Mehra v. State of Rajasthan
AIR 1957 SC 369 · Supreme Court of India
Theft requires dishonest intention to take movable property out of the possession of another without consent; a practical joke may still be theft if that intention is present.
Unit V · Law of Crimes
Theft, extortion, robbery, dacoity and criminal breach of trust
Study aid only. Confirm statute numbers with the current bare Act and the official OU LL.B. (3-YDC) 2024–25 syllabus PDF.
Statute sections
| Act / instrument | Section | Name |
|---|---|---|
| Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 | 303 | Theft (IPC 378–382) |
| Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 | 308–310 | Extortion, robbery and dacoity (IPC 383–402) |
| Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 | 314–316 | Criminal misappropriation and criminal breach of trust (IPC 403–409) |
Landmark cases
Rash Behari Chatterjee v. Fagu Shaw
AIR 1970 SC 20 · Supreme Court of India
Robbery is theft or extortion accompanied by the statutory degree of violence or fear; the distinction from mere theft turns on that accompaniment.