BNS 2023Chapter XVIIIPC: IPC Section 405
Section 316
Criminal Breach of Trust
Offences Against Property
Plain English Explanation
Criminal breach of trust (CBT) occurs when a person entrusted with property dishonestly misappropriates or converts it for their own use. CBT requires: (1) Entrustment of property, (2) Dishonest misappropriation, (3) Violation of trust/legal direction. Common examples: company directors misusing company funds, employees stealing from employers, trustees misusing trust property, advocates misusing client money.
Legal Text
Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 · Section 316
(1) Whoever, being in any manner entrusted with property, or with any dominion over property, dishonestly misappropriates or converts to his own use that property, or dishonestly uses or disposes of that property in violation of any direction of law prescribing the mode in which such trust is to be discharged, or of any legal contract, express or implied, which he has made touching the discharge of such trust, or wilfully suffers any other person so to do, commits "criminal breach of trust".
Keywords
criminal breach of trustCBTmisappropriationembezzlementtrusteeentrustment
Related Sections
Punishment
Up to 3 years or fine or both. By public servant/banker/merchant: up to 7 years + fine.
IPC Equivalent
IPC Section 405
Need Legal Help?
Criminal law under BNS requires specialist counsel. Corpus Juris Legal handles criminal defence and advisory across Delhi NCR courts.
Free Consultation