Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 · Chapter V: Of Offences against Woman and Child · Of offences relating to marriage
Section 84: Enticing or taking away or detaining with criminal intent a married woman
In plain words
Taking, enticing away, hiding or detaining a woman known to be another man's wife, intending that she have illicit intercourse with anyone, is punishable with up to two years in prison, or a fine, or both.
A simplified explanation, prepared with AI assistance from the official text below and checked automatically against it for numbers and cross-references. The official text is the law and prevails over this summary. Not legal advice.
Official text
Whoever takes or entices away any woman who is and whom he knows or has reason to believe to be the wife of any other man, with intent that she may have illicit intercourse with any person, or conceals or detains with that intent any such woman, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.
Corresponding sections were matched by comparing the wording of both official texts, and for the IPC and BNS, also against a published correspondence table. Wording, punishments and structure often changed, so read both sections before relying on the match.
Source: India Code (indiacode.gov.in), the consolidated text published by the Legislative Department, Government of India. Text as updated on India Code on 25 August 2026. Words in square brackets [ ] were inserted or substituted by later amending Acts, and *** marks words omitted by an amendment. The amendment footnotes are not reproduced here. Official text on India Code.
Supreme Court judgments citing the section 84
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Janshruti (People’s Voice) v. Union of India & Ors.
Directions sought for the formulation of gender-neutral guidelines and legislation governing the filing of domestic violence and harassment complaints. Also, sought declaration regarding the constitutionality of s.498A…