BNS 109 — Attempt to murder.

Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023

Statutory text

109. (1)  Whoever  does  any  act  with  such  intention  or  knowledge,
and under such circumstances that, if he by that act caused death, he would
be  guilty  of  murder,  shall  be  punished  with  imprisonment  of  either
description  for  a  term  which  may  extend  to  ten  years,  and  shall  also  be
liable to fine; and if hurt is caused to any person by such act, the offender
shall be liable either to imprisonment for life, or to such punishment as is
hereinbefore mentioned.
(2)  When  any  person  offending  under  sub-section  (1)  is  under
sentence of imprisonment for life, he may, if hurt is caused, be punished
with death or with imprisonment for life, which shall mean the remainder
of that person’s natural life.
Illustrations.
(a) A shoots at Z with intention to kill him, under such circumstances
that, if death ensued, A would be guilty of murder. A is liable to punishment
under this section.
(b)  A,  with  the  intention  of  causing  the  death  of  a  child  of  tender
years, exposes it in a desert place. A has committed the offence defined by
this section, though the death of the child does not ensue.
(c) A, intending to murder Z, buys a gun and loads it. A has not yet
committed the offence. A fires the gun at Z. He has committed the offence
defined in this section, and, if by such firing he wounds Z, he is liable to
the punishment provided by the latter part of sub-section (1).
(d) A, intending to murder Z by poison, purchases poison and mixes
the same with food which remains in A’s keeping; A has not yet committed
the offence defined in this section. A places the food on Z’s table or delivers
it to Z’s servants to place it on Z’s table. A has committed the offence
defined in this section.
Attempt to commit culpable homicide.

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